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featherymalignancy · 4 years ago

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PART TWO — The Eyes of Texas: A Rowaelin Origin Story 🏐 🍺 ♥️

Long before Cash and Nesta, there was Rowan and Aelin.

Rowan Whitethorn—a Navel academy graduate and recently discharged second lieutenant from the United States Navy—takes a break from studying of the police academy exam in Los Angeles to fly back to his native Hawaii and compete in a twos volleyball tournament with his ex, one of the best sand players on the amateur circuit.

Beyond Remy’s devious machinations to win Rowan back, the biggest impediment to victory is the so-called Ashryver twins, a pair of cousins from Miami with a reputation of their own. Rowan can’t help but admire the gorgeous and sharp-tongued Aelin Galathynius, who’s more than ready to give Remy a run for her money—both on the court and in the race for Rowan’s affection.

This takes place in the same AU-verse as my Nessian story In Vino Veritas, about four years before.

This a two-shot, you can find PART I here.

The Eyes of Texas, PART TWO

By midnight, Rowan knew he was in deep shit.

They’d migrated to another bar by that time, Aelin practically in his lap as they traded stories about college and their friends. Rowan found himself caught between despair and delight as he listened to Aelin speak, unsure if he should be reveling in the attention from a woman of her caliber, or fretting that it couldn’t last.

It wasn’t just that Aelin was beautiful, though he was admittedly so mesmerized by those blue eyes and that dazzling smile that he had to actively avoid staring.

She was funny, too.

And not “when a sexy woman makes a joke you feel oddly compelled to laugh” type of funny, either.

She was fucking hilarious.

She’d had him in stitches earlier with a story about getting the business-end of her grandmother’s chancla after she’d gone to Easter mass with blue teeth from her candy basket, and he’d hardly stopped laughing since.

Rowan had always been a somewhat serious person—even more so after Lyria’s death—but Aelin made him feel...younger. Lighter. And he might have felt guilty for that, except he’d had the oddest sensation throughout the evening that Lyria was there, laughing alongside him.

And—as if gorgeous and hysterical weren’t enough—Aelin was also incredibly bright. Despite the rigors of her volleyball schedule, she was a neuroscience and psychology double major, with plans to attend medical school and become a psychiatrist when she graduated.

It was an answer that Rowan hadn’t expected when he’d asked what she was studying, but somehow it suited her. The ambition, the focus—it explained in part why she was such an incredible athlete. Rowan knew better than anyone that it took more that height and muscles to be a success in the sport, and even among the juggernauts who’d completed in the tournament, Aelin had been in a class of her own.

She’d grown oddly bashful when he’d pressed her about her volleyball career, at which point she admitted she’d held off med school applications to accept a place on the AVP tour.

“They’ve offered you a spot?” Rowan’d asked.

Aelin’s cheeks had gone slightly pink.

“They called after the tournament,” she’d said. “A scout was there to watch me play.”

“Aelin, that’s incredible.”

At this Aelin’s smile had relaxed into something sensuous that had made Rowan’s stomach tighten.

“Couldn’t have done it without, guapo. ”

Now as Ro sat twirling the tail of Aelin’s braid around a tattooed finger, he tried to remind himself that he needed to shut all these bright and shiny feelings down. Aelin had been a danger to the comfortable numbness Rowan had been living in since the moment she stepped onto the sand of that volleyball court. Now, having heard her laugh and flirt and speak Spanish, she’d become lethal.

He told himself that if he was smart, he’d kiss her cheek right now and tell her goodnight. It would probably take him several days to extract her from pleasant place she’d settled under his skin, but he could stop the bleeding now. If he was smart, he most definitely would not sleep with her.

But apparently he wasn’t smart, because when she’d slyly tugged him to his feet and coaxed him into one of the private closets marked “For Staff Only”, he didn’t stop her.

He also didn’t stop her when she kissed him, tongue sliding effortlessly into his mouth and she hands tracked under his shirt.

It was a bad idea to want Aelin Ashryvver-Galathynius the way Ro did, but he found as her hands continued their exploration that he didn’t care. Even if he could only have her for one night, he would make it enough.

“Your body is insane,” Aelin breathed, tracing the ridges of his abs in a way that made him shudder.

He couldn’t help the self-satisfied smirk which tugged at his mouth as he kissed her again.

“You haven’t seen anything yet.”

At this Aelin paused to laugh, eyes sparkling with wicked delight.

“Was that a big dick comment?” She said. “I knew you had it in you, Whitethorn.”

Rowan debated going for the obvious joke about having ‘it’ in her soon before quickly deciding against it. He was tipsy; it didn’t mean he had to be a jackass, too.

“Let’s go, you little troublemaker,” Ro said, reaching for the door which led from the closet to the secluded hallway.

Aelin’s answering grin was staggering in its seductive force. She casually leaned against the door, blocking his exit as she pulled him towards her by the beltloops.

“Why, are you afraid of getting caught?”

He grabbed the hand that was attempting to slip into his pants, pinning it over her head and bowing into her so she could feel how hard he already was.

“No. But the kind of sex I want, you can’t give me here.”

This seemed to stun her into aroused silence, and he reveled in the victory of rendering Aelin Galathynius speechless. However, she recovered quickly, leaning in to nip his lip.

“Fair warning: I’m not easily impressed.”

Her wrists still caught in his grip, he bent to whisper in her ear, grinding a little against her as he did so.

“So you say, but I’m going to guess you’ve only ever been with boys, Aelin. You may not realize it, but I don’t think you have any idea how good sex can actually be.”

Her legs went slightly weak at that, and he slid his knee between her thighs to keep her upright.

“And you’re going to show me?” She asked.

All the things he wanted to do to her flashed in his mind, and Rowan had to fend off a groan as he hardened further. Much more of this and they would end up doing it in this closet.

“I am,” he replied simply.

Aelin’s answering laugh was husky.

“How are you the same guy who didn’t have the cojones to ask for my number this afternoon?”

He recognized the gesture for what it was: an attempt to gain back the upper hand in their continued tug-of-war for dominance.

Turned on by her bravura, he let her, adding with a shrug, “I guess I’m more of a ‘lady in the streets’ type.”

Still, unwilling to cede to her completely he shifted his thigh where it was still nestled between her legs. She moaned a little, moving against him almost involuntarily to get the friction she needed.

Despite the desire for privacy enough to make Aelin scream herself hoarse, Ro found the idea of her rubbing one out on him too hot to resist. Rotating his knee, he pushed up until she was practically riding his thigh.

Aelin’s nails dug into his forearm as the seam of her shorts hit the exact right spot. He increased the pressure, and she moaned again, the sound growing more fractured as he snapped open one her overall straps and squeezed her firm breast over the lace. God, her tits were perfect.

“Stop or I’m going to come,” she said, teeth gritted.

Rowan didn’t bother to fend off a self-satisfied smile.

“You’re this easy to set off, Galathynius?” He laughed softly. “God, the things I’m gonna fucking to do to you.”

“I thought you said we weren’t going to bang here.”

“We aren’t,” he said. “But that doesn’t mean you can’t have an orgasm.”

“You seriously want my first one with you to be while I’m fully clothed?”

He glanced up to meet her overcome blue eyes.

“I just want to show you how many different ways I have to make you scream, Aelin.”

Taking a fistful of the denim jumper, he tugged up roughly until the fabric was splitting her. Even though all her clothes he could see what a gorgeous little pussy she had. The realization he’d soon be inside of her made Ro’s cock ache.

“Fuck,” Aelin said, hips canting forward as he used the back-and-forth friction to drag her closer to release. “This is not how I imagined things going when I brought you in here.”

Rowan kissed her neck.

“Better or worse?”

“Better,” she said. “So much better. Mierda .”

Her body tightened then relaxed slightly against him, and were he inside of her, he knew she’d be clenching around him right now.

“You have a gorgeous come face,” he told her honestly.

“I bet you do, too.”

He couldn’t fight a grin.

“Would you like to find out?”

“Yes please. ”

He pressed forward to kiss her again, their tongues tangling as he breathed, “let’s get out of here.”

Needing no further prompting, Aelin reached behind her to twist open the door before slipping out, Rowan behind her.

Taking his hand, she tugged him towards the exit, her phone already out with a map pulled up.

“Where are we headed?” He asked. “I might be able to help.”

Aelin’s answering smile was cryptic.

“It’s not far. The app is saying a 17-minute walk. Hang on.”

With this she dialed a number before bringing the phone to her ear. Whoever she was calling—one of her cousins, Ro suspected—picked up on the second ring, and she began giving orders in rapid Spanish. After a minute she hung up, flashing Ro a simpering smile as she batted her lashes.

“Shall we?”

Rowan couldn’t fight a laugh.

“Did you just kick your cousins out of the room?”

“Suite,” she said with a growing smirk. “But who’s counting?”

“You didn’t have to do that,” he said. “We could have made it work.”

Her gaze heated, burning hot enough that Ro felt his cock stirring again. He watched as her fingers nimbly went to one of the long braids hanging over her shoulder, deftly undoing the plait.

“We don’t need an audience for all the filthy things I want you to do to me.”

He groaned.

“You’re killing me.”

She smiled, working the other braid free and giving her curtain of blonde hair a shake. Christ, he wanted to run his hands though it, then bunch in it his hands while he fucked that pretty little mouth.

She smirked as if she knew what he was thinking, even biting her lip a little in suggestion.

“Something wrong?” She said.

He only laughed.

“Completely the opposite.”

She smiled, tugging him down the street for ten blocks or so before making a left and heading towards a glittering glass building.

The Ritz Carlton.

Rowan let out a low whistle as they entered the marble lobby.

“You keeping secrets, Galathynius?”

She bit her lip.

“My dad is...not poor.”

“Define ‘not poor’.”

“He owns twenty-three luxury hotels in Miami?”

Rowan’s throat felt a bit scratchy.

“You’re a millionaire.”

Her grin was sheepish and slightly guilty.

“Kinda?”

He must have looked confused.

“I mean, yeah, with a b.”

Holy shit, her family were billionaires.

She studied him for a moment when he stopped walking, trying to take it all in. He wasn’t usually one to be embarrassed about money or his upbringing, but she was stupid rich. He suddenly felt out of his depth.

“This is why I didn’t tell you,” she said quietly. “It makes people see me differently.”

At this he glanced up, reading the sadness and loneliness in her eyes.

“It doesn’t change anything,” he found himself saying.

Dating a girl that rich, especially as a cop in Vice Squad—that could be complicated. But that’s not what this was; after tonight, Ro would likely never see her again. Besides, she’d made an effort not to make it a big deal, and hadn’t thrown money around to impress him even when she easily could have. If she could set it aside for the evening, so could he.

Also, he really wanted to fuck her. She was a girl begging for pleasure, and he wanted to be able to show her things she hadn’t experienced even in her wildest fantasies.

Aelin seemed to read the acceptance in his eyes because she tugged him towards the elevator, punching 36 before pushing him against the wall to kiss him. Sliding his hands down her thighs, he hoisted her easily into his arm, crushing her against him.

When the door opened he didn’t bother putting her down, simply breathed against her mouth, “where?”

She gestured to the left and he headed towards the single door at the end of the hall. Producing a key from her back pocket, she slid to her feet before unlocking the door and ushering him inside.

Ro told himself not to gawk as they stepped farther into the palatial space, but it was impossible.

The lavishly-appointed suite was furnished with a living room, full kitchen, bedroom, and formal dining area, floor-to-ceiling window along the far wall looking out onto the Pacific Ocean.

There was a bottle of expensive Cuban rum and several glasses sitting on the marble island, half-smoked Monte Cristo cigars resting in a nearby tray. The Ashryvvers, it seemed, were no strangers to the finer things in life.

“Do you want a drink?” Aelin asked, trailing a hand down his back and observing him as he took in their surroundings.

He turned to her to say yes, but when he caught sight of the heat in her gaze he changed him mind.

“Later,” he said, walking her backwards into the wall closest to the bedroom.

“Thank god,” she said as he threaded a hand through hers to pull her arm above her head. “I don’t think I could bear to wait.”

Rowan chuckled, teeth grazing her ear as he said, “Does that mean you’re going to be a good girl and do as I say?”

Her blue eyes snapped to him, blazing with defiance.

“What makes you think I’m that type of girl?”

“In your everyday life, you like to be in control?”

“Yes.”

Rowan nodded.

“That’s why.”

“I don’t follow.”

“You’re used to responsibility and keeping all the plates spinning, but I bet deep down, you fantasize about being able to let go; you just don’t know how.”

She scoffed, through the sound turned to a breathy exhale as he kissed her neck.

“And what makes you think that I’ll be able to let go with you, a total stranger?”

He pulled back, kissing her softly on the lips.

“Because I am going to make you feel so good and so safe, you won’t have a choice. Do you trust me, Aelin?”

“I have no real reason to,” she hedged. “We just met.”

“But...” he said onto the sensitive skin of her throat.

She paused, muscles in her neck gorgeously taut as he tugged her earlobe with his teeth.

“Díos ayúdame,” she choked out. “Yes, I do.”

“Good girl,” he praised. “Let’s get you naked.”

Throwing the overall strap he’d previously unbuckled over her shoulder, he unsnapped the other. He knelt as he coaxed the whole garment down her hips, pausing to lave her tattoo. He resisted the urge to venture between her legs, enjoying the way she bucked her hips towards the heat of his mouth as it pressed against her low belly.

“Patience,” he said, nipping the sensitive skin.

She settled slightly at that, and Ro ran his hands up her torso with with deliberate slowness, palms skating effortlessly under her lacy bralette and tugging it off in a single, fluid gesture.

He glanced down at her and groaned.

“Fucking Christ.”

Her breasts were flawlessly round and dark enough to suggest she spend a decent amount of time tanning topless, her tight nipples framed by matching diamond studs. He ran a finger over the jewelry, laughing at her shudder of pleasure.

“Are you crazy, Galathynius? You’re a D1 athlete!”

She chuckled.

“I tape them up to play. Why, you don’t like?”

He glanced up to meet her gaze.

“I didn’t say that.”

The truth was they suited her: elegant femininity edged in wildness.

“You approve then.”

He reached down to tease her, brushing a knuckle against her left nipple until it pebbled.

“They’re gorgeous.”

Aelin preened a bit at that.

“Tits this nice deserved a little something extra,” she said with a smirk.

Rowan was inclined to agree.

“These real diamonds, princess?”

“They were a gift from Aedion.”

At this Rowan stiffened, unable to smother the discomfort the idea inspired. Aelin only laughed, catching his face in her hands and kissing him lightly on the lips.

“I’m playing with you, tonto. Obviously he and Galen don’t know about these or they’d hit the roof. Besides,” she said, pert nose wrinkling slightly. “We don’t share things like that with each other. We’re close but...not that close.”

Rowan couldn’t hold back a relieved laugh, which only made Aelin’s grin widen.

“You should have seen the look on your face, though.”

“You’re trouble,” he told her.

“You love it,” she shot back, leaning in so her breasts brushed his chest.

Yeah he fucking did.

Crushing her into another kiss, her massaged her breasts, palms scraping her nipples. When they’d grown hard from his machinations he bent to taste them, loving the feel of her fingers as they wound into his hair and tugged.

“Take off your clothes already,” she said, breathless. “I want to know if your dick is as big as it feels.”

He grabbed her wrist and guided it between his legs.

“See for yourself.”

Deft as a snake, she had a hand down the front of boxer briefs, stroking him twice with a firm grip.

He planted a hand on the wall beside her head, breathing through his nose as he bowed into her wicked touch.

“What are you thinking about?” She asked as she unbuckled his belt and pushed his chinos off his carved waist until they hung low on his hips.

“You.”

“What about me?”

He bent to kiss her deeply again. God, he wasn’t sure he’d ever been this turned on.

“About what you’d look like on your knees with my cock in your mouth.”

She gave a sensuous chuckle.

“Dream on, querido. ”

He only grinned in response.

“No one likes a liar, Galathynius.”

“What reason would I have to ever suck you off?”

“The same reason you’d let me tie you up: you want to know what it’s like to let someone else be in control.”

“I never said I wanted to be tied up,” she said, voice turning to a groan as he pushed her underwear aside to dip two fingers inside of her.

“You didn’t have to,” he said, holding up his fingers so they glistened in the moonlight pouring in from the open balcony doors. “You’re soaked.”

She didn’t respond, merely leaned forward to licked the offending digits clean in a way that told him that not only did she want to suck his dick, she was going to be excellent at it.

He hardened at the thought, even as he forced a calming breath. If this was his only chance with her, he intended to savor every second.

He wanted tears— actual tears—of pleasure from her. He wanted to hear her beg. And not just some breathy “ please, more ” bullshit, either. He wanted to her to plead—for him, for release, for anything and everything he was willing to give her.

He wanted all of it and more, but to have it, he needed to be patient with her. It meant going slow, and sending her off the edge several times before he ever slipped inside of her.

Gently collaring her throat, he pressed a soft kiss to her lips before easing her off the wall and into the waiting bedroom.

“You are so beautiful,” he told her.

She smirked, eyes flashing.

“Bet you say that to all the girls you fuck.”

“I’ve never fucked a woman as beautiful as you.”

It was out before he could stop it, and he had to fend off the the twinge of guilt it produced. Still, he couldn’t regret saying it, because it was true; Aelin was the most beautiful woman he’d ever met.

Aelin, seeming abashed by this declaration, responding by coaxing Rowan’s buttoned shirt open and over his shoulders. Chest to bare chest, her next kiss was soft and drugging.

“You’re...not ugly, either,” she said at last.

“Not ugly?” He repeated with a laugh.

“You’re...” she trailed off as he kissed her neck.

“I’m...?”

“Gorgeous,” she said finally. “But I think you already knew that.”

“Maybe, but it hits different from you.”

Aelin seemed pleased by that, and she rewarded him by dipping her hand into his unbuckled pants again and fisting him.

“I was also right; you’re enormous.”

Grabbing her wrist, he pinned it to the wall and put his hand between her legs instead.

“And I bet you’re tight,” he said, drawing lazy circles with his thumb that had her back arching.

“Are we going to fit?” She teased, but he could hear the concern underneath that she couldn’t quite hide.

The idea that some douchebag had pushed into her before she was totally ready—it made Rowan’s skin prickle in irritation.

He caught her jaw.

“After I’m done playing with you, Aelin, you’re going to be so wet that you’ll feel like my cock was made to fit inside you.”

She moaned.

“If you’re half as good as sex as you are dirty talk, I think this might be the best night of my life.”

Rowan was counting on it. What he hadn’t counted on was the fact it was shaping up to be one of the best nights of his as well. And not just because of the sex, though Rowan couldn’t deal with that right now.

“I bet you taste good too,” he said, grinding against her and living for her answering moan. “Don’t you?”

“I’ve never had any complaints,” she said, and he tried to ignore the twinge of jealousy at the thought of another guy’s mouth on her.

Her pussy was his, at least for tonight. He intended to make sure she never forgot how it felt to have him between her thighs.

Kneeling at her feet, he peeled her thong down her lean legs. He let his eyes drag up slowly, taking his time admiring the muscles in her quads before his gaze settled between her legs.

She was already wet, her thighs glistening with arousal. He imagined what they would look like dripping with his come instead. The idea had masculine satisfaction thrumming through him, even knowing it was a fantasy he couldn’t indulge. He wouldn’t put her in a vulnerable position by not wearing a condom. Pressing a mockingly chaste kiss on her low belly, he rose to his feet.

“Get on the bed,” he said, guiding her hips towards the waiting mattress.

“Get naked first,” she countered, tracing the band of his Adonis belt before tugging him towards her by the waistband of his Calvin Klein boxer briefs.

He didn’t stop her as she skated her hands down the back to squeeze his ass before pushing them off his hips.

His dick was already rock hard, and it pressed between them. She leaned up to kiss him again before sinking down to sit on the bed. The movement bought her eye-level with his erection, and gripping him in a fist, she put her mouth on him.

He swore as she laved his length, cock twitching as she traced a ridge of vein with her tongue. Threading a gentle hand into her hair, he took a step back, coaxing her off the bed and onto her knees. When she looked up at him, blue eyes overcome with want, he had to fight the urge to come right then.

Despite her earlier declarations, Aelin sucked him off like both of their lives depended on it, and Rowan could only hang on and enjoy the ride as her tongue worked miracles on his shaft and her hands found every pleasure point he craved.

He swore again as she massaged his stones before kneading the sensitive swath of skin behind them. As her touch grew more deliberate, he debated telling her she could push inside him before deciding it wasn’t exactly fodder for a one-night stand.

However, when her fingers trailed back to brush the tight ring of muscle, he couldn’t fight a groan.

“Yes?” She asked, keeping her touch light.

“Go ahead,” he said, breathless.

He didn’t think he’d never been so close to losing it as he was the moment she used her own wetness to coat her fingers before carefully teasing two inside of him.

His tattooed hand tightened in her hair, but he forced himself to otherwise remain still, to let her set the pace.

“Fuck, Aelin.”

Crooking her fingers to hit that perfect internal spot, she put her mouth on him again. Between her fingers and her tongue, he only lasted ten more strokes before he came hard .

Holy shit.

Rowan was no stranger to anything they’d just done, but he was fairly sure that was the best blowjob he’d ever had.

“As good as your imagined?” Aelin said with a smirk.

“Better,” Rowan said. “Way better. My turn.”

Picking her up, he tossed her on the bed before grabbing her ankle and dragging her towards him so her legs hung off the edge.

Wasting no time, he broke her legs apart and put his mouth right where he knew she needed him, sucking hard. However, he didn’t stay there for long, ignoring her attempts to manuever his mouth into position as he teased her.

“Rowan,” she choked. “You’re killing me.”

In answer he swirled his tongue around her bundle of nerves before alighting elsewhere.

“Rowan,” Aelin said.

He sucked on her this time, loving how she rocked her hips up to fuck his face. Still, he didn’t linger long enough for her release to find her.

“I’m going to kill—“

He glanced up at her, pressing a hot, open-mouthed kiss to the crease of her hip as she watched him.

“Beg me, Aelin,” he told her. “Beg me and I’ll give you an orgasm to make you cry.”

He laced her once, and she bucked.

“I don’t beg,” she said, even as he felt her contract once against his tongue.

The idea was turning her on.

“You haven’t begged before,” he corrected. “It doesn’t mean you won’t for me.”

At this he slid a finger inside of her, finding the right spot and applying pressure.

“Oh god,” she breathed. “More.”

Rowan pulled the finger out in response.

Aelin paused, heaving slightly as she considered before breathing, “Please, Ro.”

“Please what?”

“Please, give me what I want. I’m...begging you.”

Rowan slid two fingers inside of her, grinning.

“Really, this is your begging? Pathetic.”

“Harder.”

“Harder?”

He increased his speed, knowing she was right on the edge of where she needed to be. Still, he didn’t cross that line.

“Fuck,” Aelin said, voice almost a whine. “Rowan, I’m right there—just make me come.”

“If I do, will you beg me for my cock next?”

“I will give you anything you want,” she said. “Just...” she exhaled again. “Please.”

He bowed his head between her legs again, pumping his fingers as he tongued the spot he knew would set her off.

Driven the brink by all his edging, her climax seemed to shudder through her, muscles in her stomach flexing as she contracted against his mouth. He was careful to keep his touch feather-light as the orgasm crested and ebbed, knowing her body was too sensitive to be properly played with yet.

“Oh god,” she breathed, body still trembling slightly. “I don’t think I’ve ever had an orgasm that strong before. What did you do to me, Whitethorn?”

He crawled up to meet her, hands sinking into the mattress on either side of her head before he kissed her.

“Showed you what you’ve been missing, apparently.”

She arched her hips up to meet his, the contact making him harden again.

“Aelin,” he breathed, using both palms to scrape her sweaty hair from her face.

“Kiss me,” she said softly, gaze so sincere he had to close his eyes to avoid being overcome.

He did as she asked, keeping his touch gentle in an effort to to convey what he couldn’t bear to voice out loud: that this was more than just meaningless sex.

“I want you inside of me,” she said.

He rotated his hips against hers, cock brushing against her in a way that made her cry out softly.

“I need to grab a condom,” he said into her ear. “Don’t move.”

“And what if I do?”

He bent to kiss her deeply.

“Do you trust me?”

“Yes,” she breathed.

Rowan smiled, rising from the bed to grab a condom from his wallet before crossing to the window. He deftly unknotted the silk tie which had been used to hold back the curtains and holding it up for her to see.

Aelin expelled a noise of pleasure so finely edged it was almost a whine. Slowly, deliberately, she raised her arms above her head in invitation, eyes hooded as she watched him approach.

Sliding over her, he slipped the length of silk around her wrists before synching it to the headboard.

Aelin tugged I’m experimentation.

“Too tight?”

“No,” she said.

Rowan gently collared her throat as he bent to kiss her.

“Good girl.”

Rowan drew a finger down Aelin’s torso, circling her tight nipples before tracing her navel and venturing between her legs.

“I’m going to have to make this count,” he said, sliding two fingers into her again even as he held up the condom. “I only have one of these.”

“I have some in my suitcase,” she said. “Lucky for you, I think they’re magnums. Dream big, and all that.”

He grinned, making her laugh.

“Never hurts to be prepared,” she said.

“No it most certainly doesn’t,” he agreed, putting his mouth on her again.

She bucked off the bed and he used his hands to keep her hips pinned as she twisted against her restraints.

“If only I had a spreader bar,” he told her. “I would really have you at my mercy.”

“I’m at your mercy now,” she said. “Take me.”

That, Rowan could not resist.

Quickening the pace of his fingers, he concentrated on her clit until she shattered again. Only when she’d settled back on to the bed, legs quaking slightly, did he tear open the wrapper of the condom, sheathing himself with a practiced hand.

“You’re probably going to be extra tight from the orgasms,” he told her. “So I’m going to go slow at first.”

She nodded, and he kissed her again before grabbing his shaft and sliding a few inches into her.

“Tight” had perhaps been an understatement. The pressure of her was mind-numbing, spine-tingling bliss. Still, he forced himself to pause and take in her expression.

Her brows were synched, breath ragged. He bent to kiss the tightened corners of her eyes before brushing his lips to hers.

“Talk to me, gorgeous,” he breathed. “How are you doing?”

“You’re—big,” she said, voice still tense. “I’m just trying to adjust.”

“Relax,” he coached, petting a hand down the tense muscles in her stomach. “Breathe, Aelin.”

At this she let out a shuddering exhale, even mewing a little as he reached down to play with her.

“That’s it, sweetheart,” he said, working her with the pad of his thumb. “Let me in.”

With that the some of the tenseness in her body loosened, and she moaned. He pushed in farther, kissing her deeply until she was forced to take another calming exhale.

When he shifted her hips and pulled her the rest of the way onto his shaft, she melted. He couldn’t hold back his groan of pleasure as he sank in effortlessly to the hilt, his stones brushing her soft ass.

“Fuck,” she said. “Why does that feel so good?”

He rose onto his knees, tilting her hips up on the process. She groaned.

“Because I bet no one’s hit this spot with you before,” he said.

Rearing back slightly, he thrust into her with delicious intent.

She bit her lip.

“Yours is deep,” he said.

Her answering laugh was husky.

“Are you trying to suggest you’re the biggest dick I’ve ever had?”

He smirked, unable to deny the smug masculine satisfaction that slithered through him at the thought.

“You said it, not me.”

He pulled back and thrust into her a second time. At this she squirmed a little, eyes firmly shut again.

“Yes, Aelin?” He said, repeating the gesture a third time.

She wiggled, trying to get more friction.

“Yes,” she said. “Oh god, yes.”

With that he increased his pace, loving the obscene sound their bodies made as they came together. Christ, had it ever felt this good?

He rode her hard but tried to maintain a pace that wouldn’t cause her an unpleasant amount of friction. From her moans, he was doing a better than alright job.

Rowan drank her in as she writhed beneath him, her body covered in a glistening sheen of sweat, her small breasts bouncing with the force of his thrusts.

When he reached a hand between her legs to play with her again, she swore, tightening around him.

“I’m so close.”

“Say my name," he said, left hand wrapping around the headboard for better leverage as he drove into her with increased force. “I want to hear you say my name when you come, Aelin.”

She surged forward, tongue tangled with his in a desperate kiss.

"Ro," she breathed. “Rowan.”

Rowan had to fend off a strangled moan at the reverence in her voice.

When he'd made the demand, he'd imagined her screaming it the way other women had, like it was a triumph that needed to be heralded. But hearing it whispered, as if it were a secret meant only for him, had been so much more powerful.

He instantly knew why: because this was so much more than mindless sex.

He felt the exact moment she came apart around him, loving the pressure as she squeezed him in a vice. Deftly he untied her bound hands, allowing her to wrap her arms around his neck as he kissed her.

He couldn’t hold back the pleasured groan which escaped as he found his own climax, hips nestled to hers as he drove in deep a final time.

God, what he wouldn’t give to come inside this girl for real. It was a selfish thought, but one Ro couldn’t immediately shake. He didn’t often think about babies of his own, but something about Aelin Galathynius made him want to have a million.

He shook his head slightly, desperate to rid himself of the notion of having children with a woman he’d just met. He kissed her instead, using the feeling of her lips against him to ground him more fully into reality.

When he felt he’d mastered himself, he pulled back to meet Aelin’s eye, mildly horrified to find that hers were glassy. Despite his earlier declaration about wanting to have her in tears, actually seeing them in her eyes had his heart dropping out of his chest.

“Oh god, you’re crying,” he blurted, quickly pulling out of her and touching her cheek. “Aelin, why are you crying?”

At this she snorted, the sound halfway between a laugh and a sob.

“Because that so intense I almost don’t know what to do with myself,” she admitted. “And when I get overwhelmed I always end up crying.”

He frowned, brushing her petal-soft cheek again.

“Good overwhelmed or bad?”

“Good,” she said. “Definitely good. That was just so—“ she blew out a shaky inhale, another tear slipping from the corner of her eye. “I came so hard I think my brain just stalled for a second.”

He couldn’t help but grin, even as he gently brushed the moisture from her cheek.

“I don’t think I’ve ever broken someone’s brain before,” he said. “Should I take that as a compliment?”

She laughed, the sound easier this time.

“Don’t be annoying,” she said. “You know how good you are.”

“What can I say? You inspire greatness in me, Galathynius.”

He bent to gently kiss her, his finger drawing a an ever-tightening circle around one erect nipple. Her back arched slightly at his featherlight touch, goosebumps breaking out across her small breasts.

“You are so gorgeously responsive,” he told her, bending to tug the opposite nipple with his teeth. “It’s like your whole body is a hot spot. It makes it impossible to stop touching you. I could seriously play with you all night.”

“It’s not usually like this,” Aelin admitted after a beat, threading her hand into his hair. When she spoke again, her tone was softer, more candid. “Most the time I’m too in my head, and it makes it hard to get turned on enough to let go.”

“What made tonight different?” Rowan asked, brushing the hair out her face.

He was fairly sure he already knew, but he needed to hear her say it, to take ownership of the feeling.

“I feel safe with you,” she said. “I don’t know why—you’re basically still a stranger—but I do.”

Rowan smiled, kissing her more deeply this time.

“I told you that you’d let go for me,” he breathed against her lips. “How did it feel, gorgeous?”

“Incredible,” she said, shifting her hips in search of friction as he settled more fully on top of her again. “I didn’t want it to end.”

Deftly, Rowan peeled off the condom and threw it into the trash.

“Who said it had to?” He asked grabbing her hips and rotating so he was on his back, Aelin nestled in his lap. “That was just round one.”

In response, She reached for his shaft to begin getting him hard, but he caught her wrist instead.

“It’s a marathon, Galathynius, not sprint,” he said, flipping her hand in his so he could kiss her palm. “And your body’s not ready for me to be inside you again yet.”

Aelin seemed a bit flustered at that, which left Rowan feeling torn. On the one hand, he hating thinking he’d embarrassed her or made her uncomfortable. On the other, the idea that he has the ability to make swaggering, sensuous Aelin Ashryvver-Galathynius bashful filled him with deep-seated satisfaction.

Seeming to read the intention in his gaze, she bent to kiss him, whispering, “you don’t have to.”

He pushed her back gently so he could look into her face.

“Don’t have to what?”

“Go down on me again. I know most guys don’t like to do it again once they’ve—“

“That’s amateur hour,” Rowan said, tone sharper than he’d meant it to be. “Whichever pin-headed prick told you that is a loser.”

She laughed, relaxing a little. At seeing this, Rowan settled more fully on his back, hands braced on her hips.

“Come here,” he said, voice rough with desire.

He was rewarded with a pretty blush.

“I’ve never...done it like that,” she admitted.

He smirked.

“Then I’m about to give you an important lesson in pleasure. Come here.”

Rising onto her knees, Aelin rose over Rowan until she was mere inches from his face.

“I feel like I’m going to suffocate you!” She said with a sheepish laugh.

“Then I’ll die the luckiest man on earth,” he said, gripping her ass. “Hold onto the headboard.”

She did, and he lifted his head just enough that the tip of his tongue brushed the most sensitive part of her.

Her whole body tightened in pleasure.

“Do that again,” she said, sounding more her confident self now.

“No,” he told her. “This position is about you being in control. I don’t give you pleasure; you take it.”

When she still didn’t move, he added, “this should be no problem for an imperious little thing like you.”

He knew goading her would do the trick, and after a moment she relaxed her hips, body sinking down to meet his waiting mouth. He couldn’t stifle a groan as she rocked her hips against him in experimentation. Seeing Aelin in is position, vulnerable but in control, was hotter than her could have possibly imagined.

Rowan flicked his tongue against her and she swore.

“That feels good,” she breathed, rocking forward against his mouth again. “Really good.”

His hands on the back of her thighs, he urged her hips forward, grazing her with his teeth before sucking hard.

This proved to be her unleashing.

Using the headboard for leverage, she began swishing her lips in a rhythmic motion, panting softly through her teeth as she worked herself up to climax.

He kneaded the soft flesh of her backside while she rocked against him, trying not to imagine what it would be like to slide his cock into her tight little ass. He had no idea if she was into that sort of thing nor any desire to pressure her into finding out, but the way she rocked back into his hands—as if urging them to explore—was enough to make him curious.

Hands on her waist, he tilted her pelvis towards him slightly, waiting to see how she’d react. In response she scooted higher on his body, her knees practically touching to the headboard. In this new position, there was no part of her he couldn’t access, and when she leaned forward, the invitation was clear.

Using his hands to open her legs more fully for him, he brushed his mouth against an intimate spot that—judging by her deep moan—no one had even touched before. When he repeated the gesture and she didn’t tense or pull away, he split legs even wider and circled the tight ring of muscle at the back with his tongue.

“Fuck,” she said, voice devolving into a string of slurred Spanish. “Rowan.”

Rowan worked her in broader strokes, his free hand coming up to play with her clit. When he slipped a finger inside of her he could tell she was getting close. Not wanting to claim the victory of her orgasm with only his fingers, he pulled her hips down so his tongue could replace his hand.

Far bolder now that she’d been when they’d started, Aelin followed his lead. Her fingers twined in his hair as she rocked against him hard, and Rowan was happy enough to sit back and watch as she took her pleasure like he’d instructed.

Between the rimjob and the edging, Aelin’s orgasm—when it hit—seemed to last a blissful eternity. She was trembling slightly as she collapsed beside him, eyes still closed.

“That was the hottest thing I think I’ve ever seen,” he said.

He gently cupped between her legs, careful not to apply too much pressure when she was still so sensitive.

“You’re telling me that?” she said with a laugh. “I’ve done it that to other people, obviously, but I’ve never let anyone—“ she broke off with another laugh. “Apparently I’ve been missing out.”

Rowan smirked, if only to hide the twinging realization that after tonight, it would someone else making her feel good, not him.

“I hope I didn’t set an impossible standard,” he said dryly.

“Maybe not yet,” she said, eyes blazing with want. “But you’re well in your way, and the night is still young.”

She let her azure gaze snake down his body with exaggerated slowness. By the time it reached his cock, he was granite-hard.

“Where are the rest of the condoms?” he asked.

If he wasn’t inside of her in the next minute, he might actually lose his mind.

“Bathroom,” she said, rising to her feet. “I’ll be right back.”

Rowan didn’t have time for that. He rose from the bed to follow her into the lavish en-suite. Normally he might of gawked a little at the opulence—the marble countertops, the sunken tub—but his entire focus was on Aelin. The best he could do was shift the lens to the things in her periphery. Everything else was a blur.

She was just straightening—foil packet in hand—as he entered, and he didn’t even give her a chance speak before her grabbed her around the waist, spinning her so his chest was pressed into her back.

Taking the condom, he ripped open the package and slid it on with one hand while his other moved between her legs to ensure she was ready for him.

“How do you feel?” He asked. “Do you need me to—“

“Whitethorn, if I was any wetter I’d be Nile. Get inside me already.”

It was all the permission Rowan needed. Hand on her back, he coaxed her to bend, using his legs to push hers wider as he did. She yelped softly as her bare breasts made contact with the cold marble, and he ran a hand over the curve of her hip to settle her before sliding to the hilt in single stroke.

It felt better, even, than it had the first time. She clenched around the intrusion of him even as she moaned, and he only managed to wait a beat before grabbing her hips and setting a blistering pace.

He glanced in the mirror and their gazes caught in the reflection, her desire molten.

Wanting more, he coaxed her up until her torso lifted from the counter.

Yes, he thought with greedy satisfaction. This.

This was what he wanted. Her firm tits bouncing with each hard thrust, her hips rocking back and forth, and her eyes squeezed shut in pleasure.

Gently collaring her throat with his hand, he whispered in her ear.

“Touch yourself for me.”

She did, canting her hips forward for increased friction as she moaned.

As she increased the speed with her hand, Rowan increased his, fucking her hard through her orgasm as she tightened around him.

She collapsed against the counter as he pulled her hips flush to his for one final thrust before coming undone.

She wobbled when he stepped back to pull off the condom, and he deftly caught her around the waist before she melted to the floor like a newborn fawn.

“Easy,” he said, coaxing her into his arms.

She laid her head on his shoulder.

“I think your dick has mystical powers,” she said. “Because that was insane.”

Rowan chuckled, carrying her to the bed and laying her down.

“There’s a Harry Potter joke in there somewhere,” he said, brushing some hair off her sweaty cheek as her eyelids drooped. “I’m just too lazy to find it.”

“Harry Potter references,” she said, already half-asleep. “Are you trying to make me fall in love with you?”

She was out before he could even respond, but he did anyway, lips to her temple as he whispered, “I wish I could.”

Ro woke up at sunrise the next morning, Aelin still fast asleep beside him. Not quite in his arms, but still close enough that he could feel her warmth. Christ, she smelled incredible. Like lemon and coconut.

He propped his head on a chin, admiring the way the dawn light set her skin and hair to glowing. She looked like a fallen star.

Rowan’s heart ached a bit as he studied her, trying to memorize every detail, knowing that their time together was quickly running out. Originally, he’d only planned to stay the night, promising himself that as soon as the dark was gone, he would be, too.

In the light of day, he knew it wasn’t going to be that easy. Perhaps it was only asking for more trouble, but Rowan wanted to stay at least for the morning.

He could bring her coffee from that shop Cash loved; if Ro remembered correctly, it wasn’t far from here. He could go get it while she was still sleeping, and make her breakfast when she woke up.

He wouldn’t stay all day, he promised himself, just long enough that she knew she wasn’t some meaningless screw he’d fucked and then chucked. Surely she deserved that much, at least.

Unable to resist, he ran a hand down the silky mane of her hair, slightly tangled from their numerous romps the night before, before rising from the bed as quietly and creeping towards the bedroom door. He found his boxers briefs and shorts easily enough. He just needed to find his—

“Leaving so soon?”

He turned to find Aelin sitting up in the bed, that signature smirk painted on her pouty mouth. She hadn’t bothered to pull up the sheet to cover herself, and her breasts were fully visible, the studs in them winking in the crepuscular light pouring in from the window.

“Only to get some coffee,” he said, loving the way the tension which had limned her muscles disappeared. She’d been displeased with the idea of him leaving, even if she hadn’t wanted to show it.

Her next smile was far easier.

“I have coffee here,” she said.

“Not like this you don’t,” he said with a grin. “There is no coffee on earth better than the beans for the Kona Mountains.”

Her expression grew feline.

“You dare say such things to a Cuban?” She said. “If Galen were here, he’d have you tarred and feathered.”

Rowan recalled the coffee he’d had on a trip to Havana during the short period travel when from the US to Cuba had been permitted. She wasn’t wrong; it had been fucking delicious. Still, he wasn’t going to give up that easy.

“That’s more like espresso; not the same as having a full mug with you while you watch the sun rise.”

“The sun’s already risen,” Aelin said with a smile. “And coffee should be strong and decadent, and that’s what a cortadito is. You can keep your vat of hot bean water; a little is all you need. Just enough to whet the appetite.”

Rowan couldn’t help but grin.

“Awfully set in your ways for a person who’s so young.”

“I’m only five years younger than you,” Aelin pointed out. “And I didn’t hear any complaints from you last night.”

“That’s because I have none,” Rowan admitted. “You’re—“

He broke off, not wanting to embarass himself with verbose declarations now that they were both stone sober.

“I’m—“ Aelin prompted, standing from the bed. She was still naked as they day she was born, and it was an effort not to admire her.

“You know what you are,” Rowan said.

“I do,” Aelin agreed, slinking forward and draping her arms over Rowan’s shoulders. “But it hits different coming from you.”

It was the same thing he’d told her the night before, and he decided to indulge her the way she had him.

“You’re perfect,” he said, his hand slipping around her bare waist to tug her into him.

He kissed her softly, and he could feel her answering smile against his lips.

“Yes, I am,” she said, and he couldn’t help it.

He laughed, lifting her off her feet and heading towards the bed with her still in his arms. When he was close enough he tossed her onto the wrinkled nest of sheets and pillows before crawling over her.

“What am I going to do with you, Galathynius?”

She laughed as he playfully nuzzled her neck.

“Feed me? I’m starving after your thorough ravishing last night.”

“I think I can do that,” he said, bending to kiss her.

Still, he couldn’t bring himself to get up right away. Instead he rolled onto his side so he was facing her, trying not to preen as she traced a whorl of his tattoo.

“We never talked about these last night,” she said, her featherlight touch making goosebumps appear on his skin. “They’re...Hawaiian?”

“Māori,” Rowan said. “I grew up on Maui, but my family is originally from farming town near Auckland.”

Aelin’s eyes glittered with interest.

“Have you even been there?”

“To New Zealand?” Rowan shrugged. “We used to go every few years while my grandparents were still alive. At the time it seemed boring. Now I’m glad we got the opportunity.”

Aelin nodded, still tracing his tattoos. She’d moved from his shoulder to his chest, fingers trailing closer and closer to his heart. To—

“And this one?” Aelin said. “It doesn’t look Māori.”

Rowan’s throat ached a bit as she ran the tips of her fingers over the letters at the very center of the massive design, directly above his heart.

Λυρία

“It’s Greek,” he explained.

She glanced up at him, gaze full of emotion as she said quietly, “It looks like a name.”

He nodded, throat growing tight.

“Lyria.”

Aelin didn’t push for clarification, but after a beat Rowan found himself speaking anyway.

“She’s my—she was my—“

When he broke off, Aelin only nodded.

“What happened?”

“Non-Hodgkins lymphoma. It was stage four by the time they caught it. She was gone within six months of her diagnosis.”

Aelin reached up to gently cup Rowan’s cheek.

“I’m so sorry, Rowan.”

He’d had people apologize to him a thousand times for Lyria’s untimely death, but something in Aelin’s tone was different. It was sympathetic but also...understanding, somehow.

“Have you ever lost someone you thought would be in your life forever?”

Aelin considered this before flipping her wrist and extending it. There, inked in neat script, were three small letters Rowan hadn’t noticed before.

S-a-m

“We were high school sweethearts and went to UT together,” she explained. “My sophomore year we lived in an apartment together in West Campus, but we’d started to talk about moving after there had been a series of unsolved rapes in the neighborhood. We were on the first floor and Sam was worried about me being there when he was on the road for baseball season. The night I finally agreed we could start looking for another place, there was a break-in.”

She paused, brows furrowed as she continued to study the tattoo.

“The guy had a gun, and told Sam that if he cooperated it would be over quickly and neither of us would get hurt. But Sam refused, and he fought the guy off while I called the cops. He got shot while they were struggling with the gun, and by the time the paramedics got there it was too late.”

“Aelin, I...” Rowan paused, not wanting to saying the wrong thing. “That must have been awful. I’m so sorry.”

Aelin nodded, rubbing the tattoo with her thumb.

“Me too,” she said. “I miss him a lot.”

That, Rowan certainly understood. There wasn’t a day that went by that Rowan didn’t miss Lyria.

“Did they ever catch the perp?”

“Yeah, the guy’s gloves came off in the struggle and he ended up leaving prints. Cairn Macgory. Turned out he was a law student, top honors, no criminal record. The only reason they had his fingerprints was because of his application to take the bar. He was going to be a family law attorney. He already had a job lined up after school.”

“I hope he rots in hell,” Rowan said honestly, hating the haunted look that had crept into Aelin’s eyes.

“He’s honestly just lucky the cops got to him first,” she said. “My dad was ready to have him black-bagged back to Cuba and cut into little pieces.”

“I’m sort of sorry he didn’t,” Rowan admitted, and this—unexpectedly—made Aelin laugh.

“Aren’t you a cop? I thought you’d be all gung-ho for law and order.”

“Even cops can want revenge.”

Some of Aelin’s mirth faded at this, and she looked up to study him. It was an odd feeling to be so exposed, but Rowan found he didn’t mind it coming from Aelin. After a moment she relented, leaning over to rest her head on his shoulder.

“Sorry, that was sort of heavy for a one-night stand.”

Rowan strung an arm around her sturdy shoulders as he ignored the twinge in his gut.

A one-night stand.

He’d never stayed the morning with his previous one-night stands, and he’d certainly never told any of them about Lyria, so how could that be what this was?

Before he could damn the consequences and ask Aelin about it, she slipped from his embrace, grinning at him over a shoulder.

“Can I make you a cortadito, or have I scared you off?”

He grabbed her hand to pull her back.

“I’ll have coffee,” he told her rising onto his knees and she sank back onto the bed half-way. “And after that I’ll take you to breakfast.”

“You’re friends won’t be missing you?

Rowan traced her hipbones with this thumbs, everything he’d done to her the previous evening flooding back.

“They’re adults,” he said breezily, leaning forward to kiss the soft skin between her breasts. “They’ll be fine.”

Aelin drove a hand into his hair, her grip light and playful.

“You phones been blowing up for 20 minutes,” she pointed out.

“That’s just Cash being nosy.”

“He’s not dating anyone?”

“Not that I know of,” Rowan admitted setting back onto the bed and tugging her casually into his lap. “But Cash has always been full of secrets; it’s part of his charm.”

“What about the other two?” She asked. “The gorgeous one and the grouch.”

“Fenrys is more a serial dater,” Rowan said. “Mostly because his taste in men is garbage. He always falls for the haole fuckboys then cries when they turn out to be assholes.”

“Haole?” Aelin said.

“Non-Polynesians, technically,” Rowan explained. “But most of the time Hawaiians just use it to mean—“

“Gringos,” Aelin said, grinning. “They do love to make trouble, don’t they?”

Rowan had to laugh at this.

“Fen would certainly say so.”

Aelin nodded, laughing as well.

“So that just leaves—”

“Lorcan,” Rowan said. “His bark is worse than his bite.”

“Aedion said he played him in Volleyfest last year in Miami. Why didn’t y’all compete in the men’s division together?”

Rowan rubbed the back of his neck.

“It’s...complicated.”

“I assume this has to do with your ex?”

“She invited me to play in with her. Lor wasn’t even supposed to be here this weekend. He decided to surprise me last minute.”

“So there is a gooey center underneath the scowl!” Aelin said.

“To be honest, I think Lor is probably the most sensitive and caring of all four of us. He just—isn’t good at emoting. He’s also a fastidious believer in ‘boys night’, though I think that’s just because he’s not good at chatting women up.”

“Bet he wasn’t too thrilled with me last night then, huh?”

“He’ll get over it. And he still pulls like crazy, even with his terrible flirting. Usually women take one look at him and decide they don’t even care if he can talk at all.”

Aelin laughed.

“I figured as much,” she said, rising from the bed again. “I have a lot of follow-up questions, but I need a shower before we go. Care to join me?”

She was already halfway to the open bathroom door when Rowan found his feet again, and wasting no time, he quickly swept her up in his arms and carried her the rest of the way.

After they spent forty-fives minutes fooling around in the shower and another hour having sex against nearly every available surface in the suite, breakfast—inevitably—turned to lunch.

After lunch, they’d joined a pick-up “king of the beach” doubles tournament some of the previous day’s competitors had set up. They’d made such a good team that it was nearly evening by the time they lost a match and were finally bumped off the champion court.

Starving from the exertion, they’d gone back to the suite to shower before leaving again to go to dinner. Dinner had turned into cocktails on the beach, which had turned into beers drinks at Bar 35 then tequila shots at Smith & Kings. The evening that followed was a blur of pleasure, as was the following morning, which they spend in bed together, naked and sweaty.

At every turn Rowan told himself he needed to leave, need to start distancing himself from Aelin so he could start trying to forget her. However, he’d known from the start that it had been a fools errand.

There was no forgetting a girl like Aelin Ashryvver-Galathynius. Her vivacity, her humor, her raw sexual charisma—Rowan had never met anyone like her, and he doubted he ever would again.

So how the fuck was he supposed to just let her go? It was a thought that plagued him all the way to the airport on the afternoon Aelin was due to fly back to the mainland. He’d agreed to accompany her for a last drink before her flight departed, wanting to wring every last second he could out of the weekend.

It was—he knew—only delaying the inevitable by continually putting off their goodbyes, but Ro couldn’t help it. Aelin was like the sun—vibrant and essential—and Rowan had found himself in her orbit.

Harsh realities aside, it was a painfully lovely place to be.

Ro definitely felt a shift in the vibe as he paid their tab and they headed towards the security gate. Things had gone from easy and playful to quiet and subdued, Aelin’s usual flair dimming as she continually adjusted the bag on her shoulder.

Rowan searched and searched for the words he would say to her when they were finally forced to part. They’d never even exchanged numbers; perhaps he could ask for hers and offer to call her if he was ever in Austin?

It seems so stilted and formal after everything they’d shared this weekend. He’d been inside of her, for Christ’s sake. In fact, they’d had so much sex that they’d had to buy more condoms. And she’d fallen asleep in his arms last night, and stayed there until they’d woken up this morning. That was worth more than some vague promise to “look her up” if he even came to Texas.

Still, Ro was burning daylight and he knew it. The security gate was visible now, and though they’d both seemed to slow their pace in an effort to delay the inevitable, it was approaching just the same. Finally they reached the short queue where agents were checking boarding passes and travelers were taking off their shoes and belts.

Aelin was busy on her phone as they slowed to a stop, almost as if she were avoiding looking at him.

“My cousins are already at the gate,” she said by way of explanation. “They said boarding is starting in twenty minutes.”

Rowan glanced at the security line then his watch.

“You’ve got time; things seem to be moving pretty fast.”

Aelin looked over at the line as well. Finally she dragged her azure eyes back to him, the sheer force of her gaze enough to stun him stupid. She paused, as if waiting for him to speak. He had nothing, though.

“Well,” she said finally, a small, tense smile playing around her lips. “I would offer to shake your hand and say ‘it was nice to meet you’, but given the fact we’ve seen each other naked, I think I’ll spare us both the indignity.”

Rowan forced a laugh, even as a pit began forming in his stomach. Shit, should he give her a hug, offer to give her—

“Goodbye, Rowan,” she said, leaning up to brush a kiss just to the right of his mouth. “It’s been—“ she clearly her throat, glancing away for a second. “I had an amazing weekend.”

“Congratulations again,” he found himself saying. “For making the AVP tour. You deserve it.”

Jesus Fucking Christ, was that really the best he could do? Maybe Fen was right, and he was destined to die alone.

Aelin’s grin didn’t quite meet her eyes.

“Like I said, I couldn’t have done it without you.”

“Happy to help,” he forced out. “Have a safe flight, Aelin.”

She smiled, the solemnity in her eyes now limning her face as well.

“I put my number in your phone,” she said, beginning to walk backwards towards the TSA podium. “Call me if you’re ever in Austin.”

With that she turned, and Rowan’s heart was suddenly in his throat, beating two hundred times a minute.

His mind whirred with all the reasons he had to simply let her leave—she still in college, they lived thousands of miles apart, he was a cop in Vice Squad and she was a fucking billionaire—a perceived conflict of interest even if it wasn’t a real one. There was no way it could ever work. It was hopeless, fraught with problems, doomed to fail—

He could hear his pulse pounding in his ears as he continued to spiral, thoughts growing so jumbled that he could hardly make sense of them anymore. Then a single, cogent thread emerged through the cacaphony and chaos, spooling him back to sanity.

A voice.

“Anóitos,” it teased, the tone soft and airy. “What are you doing? Don’t just stand there!”

Fuck , he missed that voice.

It had been three years since he’d lost Lyria. Three years since he’d heard her laugh, or sing, or speak Greek.

Three long, terrible years since he’d heard her speak at all.

But even after all this time, her voice was crystal clear in his head. He often felt it was her absence—more than her memory—that he’d been left with when she’d died. In that moment, though, it almost felt as if Lyria were standing beside him.

“Go, Ro. I’ll be here.”

Rowan felt a warmth tingle through him, and as he blinked back to reality, Lyria’s voice seemed to fade. But where he’d been buzzing with doubt a moment before, Rowan felt himself suddenly brimming with clarity.

If there was anything he’d learned from Lyria’s sickness, it was that life was simply too short to waste.

Lyria had died with her would-be engagement ring still in tucked away in Ro’s dresser drawer. He hated himself for the cowardice, but when she got sick he couldn’t bring herself to ask her to marry him. He’d wanted to believe that if he put off giving her the ring it might somehow serve as a talisman to keep her from leaving him. It hadn’t though, and instead she’d died never getting to be his wife.

It was a mistake he couldn’t afford to make a second time. It was improbable that he and Aelin would get married, but he felt he owed them both the opportunity to find out.

His mind was made up; fuck, he was really doing this.

“Aelin!”

She turned, watching with bemusement as he jogged toward her.

“What—“ she began, but he cut her off.

“I don’t want this to be over,” he blurted.

Aelin sagged a bit, a genuine smile splitting her face.

“Oh thank God,” she said.

Setting down her bag, she started towards him and they met halfway. Rowan cradled her face in his hands and he bent to kiss her. She fisted the fabric of his T-shirt at the hips as the kiss intensified.

“So what does this mean?” Aelin said, slightly breathless as she pulled away. “I’ve never done this before.”

Rare for her to admit she wasn’t perfect at something.

“We’ll have to figure it out as we go,” Rowan said. “My detective’s exam is in two weeks, and then I get a week off. I can come to Austin then?”

She nodded.

“Are we...” Aelin paused, biting her lip. “I mean, do you want to be...”

“Be what?”

“Exclusive?”

“Yes!”

It was out before he could stop it, so he quickly amended, “but only if you��“

“Yes,” she said, smile easier now. “I want that.”

“And are we...using labels?”

She smirked.

“Three days in and you’re already trying to wife me up?”

Now it was Rowan’s turn to flush.

“Okay, no labels—“

“I didn’t say that,” Aelin said quickly. “I just don’t want to jinx a good thing by moving too fast. What if you get back to LA and realize you accidentally got a girlfriend you don’t want? You did drink a lot of tequila this weekend.”

“Never,” he said gently, taking her cheeks in his hands. “Doubt that I want you, Aelin Ashryvver-Galathynius. And I’m fine to wait, if that’s what you want.”

“But...”

He felt his lips tugging again.

“But it’s doesn’t feel soon, not to me.”

“So....labels?” she said.

“Labels,” he agreed.

She grinned, kissing him again.

“In that case, your girlfriend has to go or she’s going to miss her flight and turn into your live-in girlfriend.”

“Honestly, your boyfriend wouldn’t mind.”

Aelin scrunched her nose, even as she laughed a bit.

“We agree the third person thing is creepy, right?”

“Yes, thank you God,” Rowan said, laughing with her.

“Dame un beso,” Aelin said, grabbing the collar of his shirt in an effort to tug his lips closer to hers. “Or I really am going to miss this flight.”

Knowing his time was short, Rowan made the kiss count, teasing Aelin with his lips and tongue until she was slightly breathless.

“See you in three weeks,” he said, pulling away.

He set the bag Aelin had abandoned on her shoulder and kissed her quickly again.

“And text me when you get on the plane so I know you’ve made it.”

She grinned, kissing him a final time before jogging off towards security once again.

“Oh and just fair warning,” she said, spinning on a heel to grin at him as she joined the short line. “My cousins are not going to like this. Might want to sleep with one eye open for a while.”

“You tell me this now?”

“Te veo pronto, querido,” she said in response, kissing her hand in farewell before showing the TSA agent her boarding pass and disappearing into the concourse.

He waited several minutes before pulling out his phone to text her. As he did, his phone chirped to signal an incoming text.

Did I mention I also stole your number and put it in my phone? 😈 💋

Troublemaker, he wrote back. Did you make it?

Yes. Wish you were here to join the Mile High Club with me.

Before Rowan could even formulate a response to that, his phone chimed again, this time from a number he didn’t know.

This is Aedion Ashryvver, it said. Treat her right or I’ll break both your kneecaps.

His phone went off a third time, the new text also from an unknown number.

Not just your kneecaps, either.

Galen Ashryvver, if Ro had to guess.

Ignoring Aelin’s cousins, he replied to her instead, saying simply, Seems like good news travels fast

The grey ellipsis pulsed for a moment as Aelin typed.

Aedion said it was their price for letting us stay in the suite alone all weekend. Taking off now. Talk to you soon ✌️ ✈️

Then it was worth it, Rowan sent back. Have a safe flight. Call me when you get stateside.

Aelin sent back a heart, and Rowan had to fight down an annoyingly girlish fluttering in his stomach as he dialed a new number and put the phone to his ear.

It only rang twice before the line clicked.

“He lives!” Cash said in greeting. “Welcome back from the island of puss—“

“Very funny,” Rowan interjected. “Where are you?”

“Hideaway. Where are you, honeymoon chapel in Vegas?”

Rowan rolled his eyes.

“Ha-ha.”

Cash scoffed.

“Ha-ha, that’s all I get? You’ve been gone for two days, brother! I want details.”

“I’ll tell you everything when I get there.”

“Just give me a quick teaser: do you have a girlfriend now?”

Rowan growled, making Cash laugh.

“I told you!” He said to someone on his end, presumably Lor or Fen.

“You’re seriously dating her?” Lor demanded a second later. “Like full-blown ‘exclusively-fucking, using-labels’ dating her?”

“Full-blown.”

“I KNEW IT!” Cash called, just as Lor growled, “fuck me, man.”

“You owe me a drink,” Lorcan told Rowan. “I just lost 200 bucks because of you.”

“I’ll buy you a shot of house tequila,” Rowan said, unable to keep in a smile. “Final offer.”

“Hurry up,” was Lorcan’s only response. “Before Kahukore explodes from the anticipation.”

“Getting my popcorn as we speak!” Cash called from the background, and with that Rowan hung up.

A short Uber ride later, Rowan strolled into the Hideaway Inn, his friends wolf-whistling as he approached.

Cash was on his feet first, grabbing Rowan by the shoulders an inspecting him head-to-toe.

“What are you doing?” Rowan said, playfully pushing out of Cash’s grip.

“Just taking you in,” Cash said with a disarming smile. “It feels like it’s been an age since we last saw you!”

Rowan rolled his eyes, and Fen added, “Pretty dark circles you’ve got there, lover boy. Galathynius keep you up all night?”

“I am not answering that,” Rowan said. “Or any questions about what she’s like in bed.”

“Why?” Cash cooed. “Because she’s your girlfriend?”

“You’re both clowns,” Rowan said.

“You’re the one dating a teenager,” Lor said. “So who’s the clown now?”

“She’s 21,” Rowan said. “And green isn’t a good color on your, Salvaterre, so just relax.”

Lorcan smirked.

“Jealous? Of you dating a Amazonian she-devil? I don’t think so.”

“That is exactly what a jealous person would say,” Fen pointed out. “Chin up, Lor, your time will come.”

Lorcan only snarled in response.

“What do we think Salvaterre’s eventual lady love going to be like?” Cash chimed in. “Betting line’s officially open, gents.”

“Tiny,” Rowan and Fen both said at the same time.

“Fifty bucks says he ends up marrying a girl under 5’4,” Fen added.

“Grow up,” Lor said with an eye roll, though Ro had known him long enough to tell he wasn’t actually bothered by the conversation.

“Make me,” Fen said.

Lor jerked his head the pool table in the back corner.

“I beat you, you owe me fifty bucks and you shut your cakehole.”

“And if I win?” Fen said.

“You won’t, so it doesn’t matter. Let’s do this.”

Lor shot Rowan a quick, conspiratorial nod, and Ro realized Lor had done it on purpose, to give Rowan and Cash a chance to talk.

It was one of the things that Ro loved about Lorcan Salvaterre. He was perceptive in seeing what people needed, and not jealous or petty. Somehow, he’d seemed to sense Rowan’s need to talk to Cash alone, even if Ro himself hadn’t realized it until just now.

He gave Lor a grateful smile, and Lor turned to clap Fen on the back, leading him towards the billiards table in the back.

“So,” Cash said, flagging the bartender down and ordered two beers and two shots of whiskey. “Tell me everything.”

He clicked his glass to Rowan’s in salute and they both tipped the shots back. Rowan winced a bit at the taste before running a hand through his hair, trying to collect his thoughts.

He ran Cash quickly through the weekend’s events, skipping over the more X-rated content and ending with his and Aelin’s agreement at the airport.

“Damn,” Cash said when Rowan had finished. “Are you sure this girl isn’t a witch? Because she has you under a spell.”

Rowan laughed.

“She’s—” he began, breaking off with a sheepish laugh. “I really like her, man.”

“You’re smitten,” Cash said with a grin. “Look at you!”

Rowan opened his mouth to deny it before shrugging.

“Being with her feels different somehow. It isn’t just that she’s gorgeous or funny or smart, even though she’s all of those things. It’s more than that.”

Cash considered this, but he didn’t tease the way Ro feared he might. Instead he simply asked, “what of you mean?”

Rowan blew out a breath.

“There’s just something about her that’s almost... familiar . Like I’ve been looking for her my whole life, even without knowing it. I know that sounds crazy, but...”

Rowan shrugged again, tracing the rim of his glass.

“She’s just special.”

Cash’s smiled, a softer thing than his fiendish grin from before.

“I’ve never seen you like this, brother.” He paused, his expression growing more reverent as he added in a softer voice, “Not in a long time, at least.”

They were quiet a moment as they both silently recalled the memories that hung unspoken between them. Cash had been the first important person in his life that Rowan had introduced Lyria to, and over the years, Cash was the one who’d come to know Lyria the best; he’d been her friend in his own right.

He couldn’t see it at the time, but when Ro finally emerged from his own grief over Lyria’s death, it was realize that Cash had been grieving as well; he’d simply put his aside to focus on helping Rowan heal instead.

It was hard to describe what that sacrifice had meant to Ro; the nice thing about a friendship as deep as theirs was that Rowan didn’t have to explain his gratitude for Cash to understand it. It was implicit in every conversation they ever had about Lyria, even this one.

“You want to know the weirdest part?” Rowan said finally. “When I was watching Aelin walk away, it felt like, I don’t know, like Lyria was there with me. Like she was telling me ‘go get her’.”

Cash smiled, his expression one of admiration tinged in sadness.

“She wanted you to be happy, Ro.”

Rowan nodded, throat tight as he looked into his glass.

“I still miss her, every day. Part of me worries that if things with Aelin ever got serious, I might start missing her less.”

Cash’s answering shrug was sympathetic.

“Is that a bad thing?”

“I don’t want to forget her,” Rowan said, marveling that he could admit that fear out loud.

“You won’t,” Cash assured him. “Ever. But you’re allowed to move on, brother; that’s what she wanted for you.”

There was something in his tone, an assurity and a promise, that had Rowan’s mouth going dry. He glanced up to meet Cash’s gaze.

“She told you that?”

Cash nodded once.

“The last time I saw her. She made me promise to look out for you, and to make sure you ended up with the right girl. And honestly?” He said, a smile beginning to grow on his face. “I think you might have just met her. I can’t let you mess that up by overthinking things, for Lyria’s sake as much for your and Aelin’s.”

Rowan felt his lips tugging up.

“You’re going to like her,” he said, and Cash grinned.

“Latin girl who can kick your ass in sports? I love her already.”

Rowan laughed.

“I’m going to Austin after my exam, but she’s planning on coming to LA sometime after that. If you’re free, you could fly out, I have airline miles—“

“I’d love to,” Cash interjected, clapping Ro in the back. “But I’m going to be out of commission for the next few months. I promise I’ll meet her properly soon, though. She seems cool as hell.”

Not to be put off by the diversion regarding Aelin, Rowan frowned, narrowing his eyes as he scrutinized his friend’s expression. Cash’s answering smile was cryptic and slightly wild. It was then Ro remembered what Cash had told him when he’d first gotten into town days ago.

“Fuck,” he said, running a hand through his silver hair. “I feel like such a dick, you said you had news. I totally forgot, I’m sorry.”

Cash laughed, the sound easy and unburdened.

“You just met the women you’re probably going to marry. I’ll give you a pass.”

Rowan thought to object to the notion he was going to marry Aelin after only three days together, but something told him not to.

“Well tell me now,” Rowan said instead.

His friend’s cryptic smile returned, mischief sparkling in his hazel eyes.

“The only thing worse than having too many secrets,” Cash always said. “Is having none at all.”

Ro had a feeling Cash was about to drop a big one on him right now.

“I’m moving to London.”

“Wait?” Rowan demanded. “Seriously?”

Cash grinned.

“Seriously.”

“Just for a change of pace?”

“Partly,” Cash said with a shrug. “But mostly to be a Master Sommelier.”

Now that, Rowan had not expected. He struggled to pick his jaw off the floor enough to speak.

“Like a wine expert?” He said, stunned. “I thought you didn’t like wine! You always ripped on your uncle for opening Merchant of Vino!”

Cash laughed.

“That’s because it’s a stupid name and Dev’s a hapless businessman.“

Rowan still couldn’t fully master his shock, though it was quickly being subsumed by an overwhelming pride.

“This is amazing, man,” he said, clasping Cash’s shoulder. “When did you decide to do this?”

Cash’s smile had grown slightly sheepish.

“When I first sat for the Level One Sommelier exam three years ago?”

“Three years?” Rowan repeated. “You’ve been sitting on this for three fucking years? Why didn’t you say anything? Every time I asked about your job you brushed me off!”

Cash rubbed the back of his neck.

“I didn’t want to tell you in case it—didn’t pan out.”

“Seems like it’s panning out just fine!” Rowan said with a laugh.

“It’s going alright,” Cash agreed with a laugh. “Considering I passed the theory portion of the Master Sommelier exam. I just have to complete the tasting and I’ll be one of 229 Masters Somms in the world.”

“Jesus Christ,” Rowan blurted. “That’s incredible. How does London fit into all this?”

“If I said the name Sadeghi, would that mean anything to you?”

“Persian billionaires or something?”

Cash nodded.

“The old man is from originally from Tehran, but the family has been in England for ages; they’re real estate royalty in the UK. Sadeghi put his son in charge opening a new hotel and restaurant in London, and I’m going to be the wine manager. Make the lists, relationship build with vineyards, that kind of thing. They’ve already hired a Michelin Star chef from Marrakech, so it’s...a pretty big deal. It’s also a good way to for me to grow my network while I study for the exam. I don’t want to be stuck in the restaurant business forever.”

“Cash,” Rowan said, grinning. “That’s amazing.”

Cash smiled.

“Maybe you and Aelin can come visit once I get settled,” Cash said in deflection, clearly at his limit for discussing himself. “You know, Aelin your girlfriend.”

Rowan had to laugh.

He had a girlfriend.

And—Jesus Christ—Cash was moving to England. It was almost too much good news for a single day.

“I’m happy for you,” he told his friend, giving his shoulder an affectionate squeeze. “And you deserve this. You’re going to crush it”

“I hope so,” Cash said. “The pass rate for the tasting portion of the exam is 32%.”

“You’re the smartest person I know,” Rowan said. “So that number means nothing.”

Cash grinned.

“You flirting with me, Whitethorn?”

“If you’re going to be friends with billionaires, you need to learn how to start taking compliments,” Rowan said with a chuckle.

“I’ll keep that in mind,” Cash said, and Rowan could see the unsaid words shining in his friend’s hazel eyes. “Another drink?”

Cash turned to slip off the stool he’d been perched on, by Rowan caught his arm.

“Cash.”

Cash turned back, expression somewhat bemused. Rowan felt a lump beginning to form in his throat, but he pushed on regardless.

“It’ll be you, you know that right?”

“Be me?” Cash repeated, confused.

“When I get married—whoever I get married to—you’ll be my best man. I couldn’t have it any other way.”

Cash smiled, eyes sparkling. He considered this for a moment before pulling Rowan into a hug, one which Rowan gratefully accepted.

“Love you, brother.”

There were very few people Rowan considered worthy of this type of familial affection, but Cash was certainly one of them.

“I’m not drunk enough for this kind of thing,” Cash said, pulling away. “I’m going to get us another drink.”

Rowan’s phone buzzed with an incoming call just as Cash was sauntering away. He was surprised to find it was Aelin, and concern sluiced through him as he answered the call.

Before he could ask if she was okay, Aelin said, “Stupid flight attendant has been holding out on me. She waited until just now to tell me I could make calls on WiFi.”

Rowan felt amusement tugging at his lips.

“Should I be concerned that you’re calling from altitude? Nothing’s wrong, is there?”

Rowan could practically hear Aelin’s grin through the phone.

“No,” she said breezily “But I realized I never told you about the Cinnabon I had on my way to the gate. I figured I should call and tell you now lest I forget.”

“Oh yeah?” Rowan said.

He couldn’t help it; he was all-out smiling now.

“It was life-changing,” Aelin said.

Rowan glanced up to find Cash joining Fen and Lor at the pool table with a conspiratorial wink. When he mouthed ‘sorry’ and made to rise, Cash waved him off with a smile.

“In that case,” Rowan said, settling back on his stool. “Tell me everything.”

THE END

If you liked this story and want more Rowaelin, check out my Nessian fic In Vino Veritas, set in the same modern au-verse about four years later. If you want a sneak peak at how Lorcan’s romance check out the teaser for F*cking Lawyers, set within the In Vino timeline. ♥️

TAGLIST: @tswaney17 @katexrenee @mightymorphingayagenda @nalgenewhore @superspiritfestival @mis-lil-red @pilesofriles @whitewashedasiangiril @http-itsrebecca @starkovsnesta @thebitchupstairs @sometimesimthatbitch @islareads @faerie-queen-fireheart @queen-of-glass @sleeping-and-books @enpointe10 @justgiu12 @thesurielships @keshavomit @stardelia @awesomelena555 @alyx801 @carbconnoisseur @ladywitchling @thewayshedreamed @annedub @cityofchelsea16 @spyofthenightcourt @empress-ofbloodshed @morrigays @theminorfallandthemajorlift @belamoonbeam @moonstoneriver77 @wesupremeginger @scrawlandspirits @garnet-29 @b00kworm @cursebreaker29 @jesstargaryenqueen @feyrethedarklady @officialasianbitch @cridhe-teine @sassyhobbits @musicmaam @januarystears @tottenhamboys20 @shyvioletcat @ifinallygavein @maybekindasortaace

#rowaelin smut #rowaelin modern au #rowaelin #acotar x tog crossover #featherywrites #eyes of texas #In Vino Veritas Prequel

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cursed-blade-gf · 3 years ago

Text

Wanted to finally close out Fury of the Druid, so that I could finally write some new stuff as well as intro a new character as well as delve deeper into these girls’ blossoming relationships with each other, so here is the epilogue to Lyria’s Vengeance quest. I hope you enjoy. @sapphic-alcina-dimitrescu

Fury of the Druid-Aftermath

FWOOMP!

All five girls hit snow as Petra immediately began to ready healing spells for Verity. Her tattoo flared with arcane and holy energy and the insane amount of burns started to slowly disappear. As Verity’s eyes flickered open, Petra couldn’t contain herself.

“ARE YOU INSANE? You wake up after being tortured within an inch of your life and you decide to challenge the strongest thing in the room! Are you crazy?!” Her red ponytail swayed in the wind as she ranted.

As soon as the healing kicked in, Verity sat bolt upright. “Oh you’re gonna lecture me on stupidity, little miss mercenary?! How many times did you jump head first into danger! I’ve been looking for you for years! What the hell?! I thought we had something!”

Emily sat nearby, processing all of this info while Lyria tried to bandage Aerin’s gashed side that was still bleeding, clearly still coming to grips with what had just happened. Petra continued. “Yeah, but I never jumped into a fight with a demigod at 2%. What kinda boneheaded move?! Clearly, you haven’t learned anything!”

Verity stood up like she hadn’t just been incinerated within an inch of her life. “You still don’t have any room to talk, Ray-Ray! You’ve been gone the last 7 years. You left without saying goodbye. There is nothing you can say that can make me think you actually mean what you’re saying right now!”

Petra took a step back with a look of absolute shock and fear. “No. They didn’t. You don’t know.”

Verity stopped. “They didn’t what?”

Petra looked into her eyes and started checking her vitals. This couldn’t be. She immediately cast Identify and it was just as she feared. “They pulled you from seven years after I left. How much time do you think has passed?”

Verity looked completely lost. “I don’t know. I was in there a while. Maybe 8 years?”

Petra felt ice drip into her veins. This wasn’t a coincidence. This was planned. “Verity, listen. I’ve been alive a long time. This entire time we’re living in? It’s been a lot longer than you remember. Nytoria, I need you here now.”

Lyria and Aerin had set up a fire in the broken down structure nearby. Emily looked more conflicted than ever as all three of them shuffled over to the encampment.

As they all sat down, a door opened in the middle of nowhere and the resplendent figure of Nytoria, Petra’s patron and the goddess of time and free will entered their presence. She immediately saw Verity and got a very concerned look on her face.

“Oh dear, we’ll get to you in a minute, firebug. Lyria, you ok? You look like you’ve been through a shredder. Petra, it’s bad manners to ignore your wife who just went through something.”

Petra turned and actually looked at Lyria and she was right. She looked like hell. “Oh my god, I am so sorry. So many things going on.” Petra almost walked through the fire pit to Lyria, who looked catatonic, and cast Calm Emotions. She was running out of magic, but she didn’t care.

The spell looked like it shook Lyria out of the thousand-yard stare she had on. “Yes, sorry, I’m fine. It just hit me that I finally won. They’re gone. I can live my life. Wait, why aren’t we at the castle? Why aren’t we home?”

Petra hugged her tight. “If we went home from where we were, the Rusted Knife could track us. Not that Némain and the girls couldn’t handle themselves, but the last thing we need is four fights in a row. Especially with me and Firebug over there being almost tapped out. We needed to jump somewhere safe.”

Lyria nestled into her wife’s coat. “Can I have this while you’re figuring things out?”

Petra slid out of her trench to expose the leather armor she kept on over her gauze binder. “Of course. We’ll get you some rest soon.”

Nytoria gave a quick tap to Aerin’s wound and it immediately sealed up. Aerin looked shocked. “Whoa, how did you do that?”

Nytoria gave a soft smile. “I’m the goddess of time. Time heals all wounds. I simply fast forwarded the healing process. It will still be sore, but, at least, it won’t be infected. You’ve grown, Aerin. Keep it up.” Aerin looked like she was about to cry, but held it in.

Nytoria turned. “Now, for the elephant in the room. Verity, I’m sorry to tell you this, but you’re being here wasn’t an accident. I sense evil houses within your soul that isn’t a part of you which means the Augerous Flame has attached itself to you. It won’t be an immediate problem, but you have a long road ahead of you.”

Nytoria blessed her as Petra continued to check her vitals and examined her body for any anomalies.

Petra’s confusion persisted. “I don’t understand. That big of a jump should have had a massive effect on her body. I don’t understand why she’s still ok. There should have been a massive adverse decay.”

Nytoria continued to look over at her. “Well, I blessed her with the same blessing I gave the rest of your friends, but you make a point. Even before we found her, something should have happened.”

Emily finally broke her silence. “I’m so lost. What should have happened?”

Petra turned and sat next to Emily as Verity scooted closer to her. “They didn’t just pull her through space, they pulled her through time. Verity was the last girl that I felt a connection with until I met Lyria and you, Em. That was 700 years ago.”

Verity looked terrified. “I…I don’t…”

Petra gave Emily and Verity a comforting hug. “Yes. I’ve been alive for 728 years. Nytoria has made it so I, as well as you four, don’t age or die by natural means. Those stories of me killing the fallen god of protection? Those happened centuries ago in the Exandrian plane. Verity, you were pulled from that time period to now while I had to live through the rise and fall of several civilizations since then.”

Emily felt it set in and immediately understood everything about Petra. Why she’d still been so careful, her obliviousness, her weird habits. She hadn’t been serious about dating in literal centuries.”

Nytoria knelt in front of her champion. “And though you have fallen several times, you’re still making me proud. I must leave. I cannot interfere too much or Melora will have my head. Here, one more planeshift. I suggest you rest. And Verity, it is good to see you again.” She stood up and with a gesture, disappeared in a flash of light.

Petra gestured to Lyria and Aerin and all five of them snuggled together as the storm continued to blow.

“I promise that I’ll never leave any of you behind. Never again. Lyria, I think tonight was a success?” Petra said, pulling out the tuning fork.

Lyria had tears streaming down her face. “Yes, yes, it was.”

Petra dinged the tuning fork and right as they were pulled from whatever plane they had landed in, she felt both Emily and Verity pull themselves into her as they vanished.

#emily cordalith #petra naverrian #lyria peregrine #aerin curridan #verity xanderia

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bubblesthemonsterartist · 6 years ago

Note

56 obiyuki (or maybe obikikiyuki if you are feeling spicy)?

Prompts are currently closed while I catch up. I will announcewhen I am open! :)

56. Caught off-guard kiss

Follow up to this.

When the first gust of wind cut through him thatday so long ago, drifting in behind his Mistress and Little Ryuu like asnowbank, he thought, perhaps, that he made a mistake. That he should turn back. That the soft stirrings of hisheart, the whispers of- of things best left unnamed that inspired him to follow, to kneel, to ask “isit alright if I stay?” were nothing more than a passing bought of insanity.

Twoyears, he mulled, turning down one empty street and then the next, each filled with fresh snow that crunched beneath his boots. Each nerve-ridden second brought him closer todawn. To reunion. Two years of this?

He stayed, of course. The weight of Masterssword tethering him to the earth where he might fly, and in that moment ofweakness, a lonely light had shined through the dark. A tailor, prone to nightsas restless as Obi’s own, fussed about his shop. He hadn’t even been shocked tohear the rapping at the door, a lonely traveler unprepared for the cold neitherrare nor unanticipated.

“It must be a girl,” his gravely voice hadchortled, dusting the snow off Obi’s shoulders and taking stock of his dress.“Only a girl could inspire a man to be so stupid.”

Weathered hands peeled his clothes from him, threadbarecotton and muslin shed from him like some abused reptile’s skin. A quick exchangeof gold was enough to transform him from a slippery thing scrambling in the darkto something powerful, something proud that could stand in the sun as easily asthe shadows. That creature, that being born from the weight of his Masterspurse and the sure hands of a craftsman that knew his art, is what met hisMistress at dawn. That stood guard, knee deep in snow, on the highest walls onthe coldest nights. Because he could. Because he wanted to be the person hisMiss and his Little Ryuu knew he could be.

But these days there was no tailor that couldwrap the hurt; that could weave a cloth fine enough to keep out the chill. Thecold was no longer a shivering touch but a vice, bearing down on fractured bone andsneaking into the crevices. In the early morning hours, when the freezewas at its deepest, it crept into the spaces where he had not yet healed, freezing andpressing against its confines so that he woke in the pitch of night, burnersgone cold and a leg throbbing.

And yet-

And yet, still, it did not hurt as much as themoment he realized his arms were empty. The space between them as gaping as thehole in his heart.

Sleep would not come after that.

So when he wakes, still warm, at dawn, the lightcreeping in through the windows no one bothered to shutter the night before,he’s confused. Even more so at the slight weight at his side, a familiar heftthat numbs his left arm. Brain churning with a mighty groan, he flips throughthe catalogue of all that it might be. It’s too uneven to be one of theweighted blankets Suzu had drapped over him in those early days in a vain attempt to keep himabed, and Kirito was too tall, too broad, and too much at the cusp of manhood these days to suffer the indignity of letting others know he felt cold. But he also cannot see Shidan letting one of the strays of Lyrias intohis precious pharmacy - no matter how beseeching their eyes may be - to curl inclose with him during the night.

Cracking one eye open, he has immediate regretswhen the first rays of sunlight creep over the sill to stab him in the eye. Grimacing, Obi scrubs his face with the arm not pinned down-

And blinks. Then blinks again.

A gnarled nest of red tucks itself up againsthis side.

His first thought is how he’s never seen a dog with that color coatbefore. The second, is how odd it is that someone would bother to wrap it in awinter wear when its fur should be enough. It’s not until his eyes trace down to the booted feet dangling off theside of the bed that the pieces finally snaps into place, and-

He must- he has to be dreaming.

But she grunts, face screwing up in discontent beforeburrowing against his side to hide from the sun, and he knows he’s not.

Obi scrubs his face again, then again, catchinghis laughter, his joy against his hand. Relief, gratitude, and pure bemusedaffection swirl in a strong concoction in his chest but- but he thinks he likesit. Better than the tonics they had been plying him with since she departed, at least.

What is she even doing here? He thought she wasn’tdue to return for at least a week, and even then, surely she would be morecomfortable in her own bed-

Eyes snapping back to her booted feet, hecarefully, slowly, sits himself up and yegods, hopefully this hurt will be as ignorable as the others soon. It’s adelicate process between bracing his weight on one arm and one leg while keeping her cradled close his side so she doesn’t roll off the bed. Gradually,he manages to hoist her stockinged feet onto the mattress, earning him a grumpygrunt that softens his heart to the point of mush.But she stays firmly asleep. Hell, her breathing doesn’t even hitch, not evenwhen he plucks at the lacing of her boots.

Little flecks of dried mud cover his bedspreadas he pries the first boot free and my my won’t Suzu be pleased? Obi reachesfor the other, maybe leaning a little too hard on his injured leg, and hisses. It’s-a lot. When both of her smelly stockings are finally exposed, they dart beneath the blankets, hiding themselves beneath his shin. Laughing beneath his breath, Obi drops himself back to his pillow. And doesn’t evenget to lock eyes with the ceiling before her arm hooks around his chest,dragging her body flush to his side once again.

His heart lurches uncomfortably, alreadypounding so hard in his chest, but the particular feeling of it being stabbedthrough is… a welcome one.

“Miss,” he sighs, smoothing down her hair. “Whatam I going to do with you?”

A muffled voice replies, “Let me sleep a little longer, I hope.”

His eyes widen when he catches the first glimmerof green through the net of her hair, peering up at him from its hiding place against his chest. Breathless, he asks, “When did you get back?”

“Last night,” she says, her voice a dreamy sigh,and ah, just this. Just her voice. There’s no words for how he longed for it. “Ichecked in with Suzu who said you’d be here. I couldn’t believe it when youwere actually sleeping.”

He quirks his lip in an innocent grin. “Justfollowing orders.”

She snorts into his side and he gets to see themoment that the fog clears away and those too clear eyes focus on his. “If the stories I heard last night are even a little true-”

Huffing, he interrupts her. “If he would stopfussing-“

“Obi,” her voice loses some of its sleep ladensoftness, its sharpness bringing him to heel. “He said Hiro had to talk you offthe battlements.”

His cheeks absolutely, positively do not go warm. “Well if someone hadn’t insinuated in her lettersthat I would be getting soft being abed all day-”

It takes him a minute to realize she’s- she’sshaking. She’s laughing. “Well, youhaven’t gotten too soft,” she says,arm sneaking under the blanket to wrap around his middle. He flexes, proving that definition was definitely still present, when her chilly fingersgrab ahold of his side and squeezes. “But it’s nice where you are.”

“That’s just loose skin!” he protests.

“Mm,” she hums, smoothing her palm down hisstomach.

He jolts. Just a little. “How was your trip?”

It takes her a moment to reply, fingers lingering near his bellybutton. When her thumb smooths down the patch of hair that runs from it, and he takes a deep, steadying breath.

“Good,” she says.

That was vague. “No evil lords to overthrow?” hedrawls, poking her cheek. “No great injustice to solve?”

Scrunching up her nose, she draws her hand backand buries her reddening cheeks in his blankets. “Not this time.”

Narrowing his eyes, Obi tries a new tact, pokingat her neck instead. He’s rewarded with a little muffled squeal. “And what aboutwhen you were on the road?”

One green eye peers up at him, narrow and jagged,like a piece of broken glass, and his stomach drops out. Ah, he foundsomething. Something that she hadn’t been willing to tell him in her letters.Something that his guilty mind can latch onto and chew like cud.

“Well,” she drawls, pushing herself up on herforearms. “There was one thing.”

He leans in, eager to hear. He’s had nothing buttime to think of possible dangers she could face; obstacles that she couldencounter, and now that she is safe and sound and in his arms he is… eager to pick apart the details anddetermine how he might have handled the task better. That he might havedispatched the bandits with more style than Shikito ever could or would have quelleda runaway horse before it even startled.

“One night,” she begins, leaning in close. “Iwoke up and I felt something tickling my face. At first I thought it wasYuzuri, but-”

Obi’s heart leaps into his throat. A spider. Itmust have been a spider with a venom that had her laid out in bed for days. Orworse, a scorpion. Maybe even- what were those demon bugs actually called? A centipede. “But?”

“It was a cockroach!” she cries, covering herface with her hands. “It was on my pillow and it’s little antennas weretickling my face!”

He stares.

“And then Yuzuri woke up and by then it had runonto her bedroll, so she was screaming, and-”

He can’t listen. Not for another second. Hishead hits his pillow as the laughter startles out of him so hard that it jars his leg.

“Obi!” Miss thwaps his chest with the back ofher hand, face burning so bright it may well be the same shade as her hair.“Obi, it’s not funny!”

Oh, but it is. “Sorry,” he gasps, clutching hisstomach. “Sorry, Miss- Please continue”

Her face is the most endearing little pout. “Itwas really big!” she says, gesturing with her two separated index fingers, andthere’s really… no way. He’s slept in some of the dirtiest slums in countless capitals and never saw anything approaching that size. “At least this much!And then it went down Yuzuri’s collar-”

Ever since he entered into his Masters service,he had sought to be good. Be better. Be the man that he wasn’t before. But noamount of Sir’s valor or Miss Kiki’s restraint or Master’s goodness can stopthe bark of laughter that punches out of him.

“Then!” Miss says, loud enough to be heard overthe racket of his own doing. “She shoots up, screeching, and starts tearing off herchemise and everyone in the other tents must have thought we were underattack-”

He might actually be crying now. He doesn’t know.He can’t feel his face.

“-And I’m trying to help her get it off, but thecord got snagged in her hair, and then Shikito and another soldier come intoour tent, swords drawn, Yuzuri had never been shy, but she goes redder than me. Even her thighs were blushing-”

“Stop!” Obi gasps, coughing, turning to hisside. “Stop, Miss, have mercy-”

“We never did find thecockroach,” she says, smile sly a bit later when he has caught at least half ofhis breath. “It must have crawled into the forest, but I don’t think Shikitobelieved either of us. He wouldn’t meet Yuzuri’s eyes for days-”

Giggling nonsensically, Obi turns into her,burying his face against her shoulder. When her arm wraps around him, sodelicately, as if his ribs were newly bruised, he asks, “And that’s the worstof it?”

“That’s the worst of it,” she laughs, nuzzling into his neck. Her body goes rigid suddenly, and she pulls back. “Well, that,” she says,lifting her hand to his cheek. The look on her face is solid befuddlement. “Andthe fact that your face wants to attack me now.”

It takes him a moment to catch her meaning. “Oh!” he grins, rubbinghis knuckles across his jawline. “What do you think?”

Head tilting, she says, “I didn’t think youcould grow a beard.”

“Well,” he says. “Obviously I can. But that’snot the point. Do you like it?”

Her nose wrinkles, lip drawing between her teethlike she’s not sure what to say. “It’s… different,” she says finally. “When didyou start growing it? A couple of days ago?”

Lips drawing thin, he says, “I haven’t shavedsince you left.”

“Not really?” Her lips tremble, eyes bright, and she touches the line ofhis jaw once again. “You should shave, I think.”

Frowning, he retorts, “Maybe I should grow itmore.”

“Don’t pout,” she teases.

“I’m not pouting, I’m just-” She bites her lips,but her dimples are showing, and it’s just- too much. She’s been gone for toolong and he’s missed her too much to not do something about it. Hand dartingout, he grabs her wrist and drags her to him, scratching his stubbleagainst the soft of her palm until she squeals.

“Obi!” she yelps, trying to tug her wrist fromhis grasp. He turns his face into her open hand, dragging his teeth against herwrist and her laughter turns high pitched and giddy.

“You’ve hurt its feelings, Miss,” he growls against her skin. “You only just met it and now you’re telling it to go.”

“I’m sorry, I’m sorry! It can stay!” she gasps,and he lets her hand go with a grin. She draws the poor abused thing to her breast,cradling it with her other hand as her thumb soothes the burn. Her face isflushed with laughter, voice breathless when she adds, “It’s a very manlybeard.”

“Why, thank you,” he preens, flopping back onhis back. It’s a little too hot now, the light beating on them, but, ah- who’s he kidding? He flew a little too close to the sun, he thinks, with the way hisskin thrums, with the way the salt of her skin tastes in his mouth, but it’s- it’s worth it. “Quite dashing if I do say so myself.”

“Let me-“Miss begins, drawing him out, and he turns towards her, only too late realizingthat she is leaning in. The corner of their mouths meet before he can stop and he- he freezes. She does, too. It’s only a beat too long later that she pullsback, face burning, that she adds “-uhm, kiss it better. That what was I wastrying to-”

Oh. His beard. Yes. Of course.

He opens his mouth to laugh. Or smile. Or saysomething to dispel the awkwardness. But his mouth, it just gapes. Like hers does. But her eyes are riveted, focused on his lips. And it’s justbeen so long since they saw each other and it feels so… natural… to lean backin again, to watch her lashes fall to half-mast as she leans in, too.

But-

She jerks back a bit. Sohe does, too. A flush spreads across his cheeks, a pain lodging itself deep inhis heart, and it’s just enough hurt that he can find his voice again.

“Why, Miss,” he begins,averting his eyes. “I didn’t know you missed me so mu-“

“Obi.”

The touch of her hand on his cheek startles him,the brush of her thumb against his lower lip numbing his tongue. She searches his face, and whatever she must find in his eyes sharpens the uncertainty in hers to one of determination. Shifting herself, her other hand lands on his chest, fisting inthe fabric.

He likes to think that he learned how to fightthe day he learned how to walk. His life has been nothing but a battle, nothingbut broken skin and bones and binds. And yet when she shifts, crawling up his body, she has him immobilized morecompletely than any opponent has ever accomplished and he- he can’t move. He doesn’twant to move. So he just watches asshe leans forward again, this time for real. This time with purpose. Withouthis say-so, one of his hands spans the small of her back, the other cradling the nape of herneck and she closes the distance between them so easily.

And she’s- she’s always been here. She’s alwaysbeen at his side. Always filled the space between them as easily as he’s madeit. He always thought that if the world wasn’t filled with better men than hewas or he was somehow good enough for someone like her, that kissing her would be… powerful. World-changing. Something that would break him and make him anew.

But-

But she already did that. Years ago.

So it’s nice. And soft. Less a storm and morethe gentle sliding of pieces into place. Her lips press against his and hedraws in a breath so filled with her that it touches every bit of him. It warms himwhere he feels cold; soothes the parts of him that has only known hurt.

And it’s- it’s them. Just them. Every click of skin meeting and parting, every soft sound shemakes into his mouth is somehow like every day since she came into his life. Herkisses taste like her and theirlives and all that they’ve built together in this place.

It tastes like home.

When she pulls back, he tries to follow. It’s toolittle, too much, he doesn’t know. He just doesn’t want it to stop. But shestays him with her palms against his cheeks, her forehead resting to his, and heopens his eyes to find her smile, beautiful and radiant, waiting for him.

“Obi,” she whispers, brushing her nose against his.“I’m home.”

His chest expands. It contracts. It cracks and breaks along fault lines, letting loose binds that kept his words trapped in his throat for far too long. It stings, the pain, but in a good way. For never has his mouth moved more effortlessly. Never have words come with such ease as when he replies,

“Welcome home.”

#bubbleswrites #akagami no shirayukihime #snow white with the red hair #obiyuki #valentines day prompts #these were only supposed to be a few hundred words long #but was i able to restrain myself?#was i??#the answer will shock you

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cinnbar-bun · 6 years ago

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Class IV HCs Pt 1

Anonymous said: Okay, so, I was unlocking my last Row IV class in GBF, and I thought: How can MC be so different in each class? Cuz they give completely different vibes even though they are the same person. Just look at Chaos Ruler and Glorybringer for example. So, what if different classes have different personalities too? How do you think they would be?

A/n: Oh my god this is such a fun ask!! Once again, real crackish (ps, last Row IV class??? Damn son) Under the cut cuz this is looooong!! Sorry I only did a few I didn’t have much time and wanted to give you guys something

Berserker Gran:

He acts like a puppy, it’s kind of funny and adorable

He gets aggressive meeting new people, but he’s quick to warm up to others

Really loves people ruffling his hair (he may even purr)

This is probably one of the most insane versions of Gran cuz usually he’s a bit more quiet than all of a sudden he’s screaming his power moves from the other side of the sky.

I think this version of gran loved the power that came with being a berserker and became an adrenaline junkie (just my opinion but hey)

Fiercely protects Lyria. She is one of the few he trusts with his life and acts like a guard dog the moment suspicious behavior is near her.

Hates the heat because hell no he’s walking around with that armor?? Not a chance.

Berserker Djeeta:

This girl wild, the utter definition of a party animal

Every time she goes into battle she howls loudly to the sky and shouts “COME ON LETS PARTY!!!!” Every. Freaking. Time.

She’d be a bit more rowdy and flirtatious, like nothing holding her back

OKay I feel like if she was older and at the age where she could, she’d get into heavy drinking contests with Eugen. It’s a damn mess when Djeeta gets drunk she cries over EVERYTHING she’s like “when I was younger a boy took my last cookie without asking me. EFF YOU RALPH FROM TWO HOUSES DOWN!!!”

Loves her friends dearly and will cut someone if they dare make fun of them.

Loves swimming

Spartan Gran and Djeeta (I put them together since I think they kinda act the same):

Both very serious and commanding, they have no problem telling others what must be done and how it should be done

Tend to be stand-offish and cold to many, but to the few (*Lyria*) they are more parental and affectionate

They are in the front lines defending everyone because they love them so much but just don’t know how to show it.

Will be the first to yank someone back and be like “what the HELL kind plan is that you dumb idiot!! Do I really need to-”

They actually enjoy helping the kids, but sometimes the kids are very intimidated by them. To counter this, Djeeta and Gran would give them gifts anonymously to cheer them up.

Sage Gran:

“Work hard-play hard” type of guy. He can come off as serious and quiet, but he really is a nice guy when he’s not on duty

This dude loves soft animals he has stashed like thirty animals in his room and sometimes people see random bunnies, birds, and cats all around the ship.

He lets the anxious crew members pet one of the animals to relieve their stress

All about positivity, this guy is like your health guru, he’ll be like, “no honey, don’t eat that, why don’t you try this??” You thought being healthy would taste disgusting YOU ARE WRONG!! THIS MAN WILL COOK YOU A FEAST AND ITLL BE LIKE ZERO POINTS ON WEIGHT WATCHERS

Sage Djeeta:

She is the mother friend now

All the kids, adults, and animals love her for no reason other than, “it’s Djeeta”

Her award-winning smile has saved her from disaster countless times

Very much into helping everyone. She is the best peacemaker in the crew, and can change villain’s stances on their goals

Is the best therapist ever. This girl will take you in, make you sweets and tea, and just have you rant for hours on end.

Claims she can talk to animals and honestly no one would be surprised.

She is about positivity as well, but it’s about your emotional and mental health. She makes sure no one feels guilty for trying to help their mind.

Warlock Gran:

Kinda weird tbh. He’s quiet, but then has his sudden moments of insanity where he’ll just get soo excited over new forms of magic

He is a bit of a loner, and many think he’s planning new forms of destruction

Loves cats and books, he could spend hours reading and petting his cat.

He doesn’t know why, but the kids love him. He remembers being their age, but he thinks he isn’t that good with them, so he does what he’s best at-magic. The kids go WILD at it and they’re like ‘DO THE SPARKLES DO THE SPARKLES DO THE SPARRRRKKLLESSSS’

Keeps a secret garden that no one else knows about. He grows funky looking plants and some accidentally mutate into horrendous monsters.

Warlock Djeeta:

This girl is perhaps the most energetic version of Djeeta

She’s a bit of a prankster and loves showing off her magic

A bit nerdy, but thinks experience is the best way to learn. She sometimes just mixes random shit together and is like ‘welp, hope it works!!!’ Keeps tabs on all her experiments.

“It’s not warlock, it’s magical girl you degenerate dumpster child!!”

“It’s leviOsa, not levioSA.”

Loves performing for the others, but she always says, “remember chirren, that’s hardly the extent of my magical ability. If anyone is giving you a hard time I’ll make sure the blow them to bits!!!”

Pyromaniac to the max she blows stuff up for no reason other than she felt like at the moment.

Makes love potions and sells them to desperate villagers on the side (you didn’t hear the from me tho)

Loves birds and names each one by her favorite male victims crushes. (yall know she named one Sandalphon and that one is her fave)

#shitpost #Random Posts #not writing #Granblue Fantasy #GBF #long post

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goforwardgreenwriter-blog · 7 years ago

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The Worm Reads: Empire of Storms, Ch 71-72

These goddamn chapters are so long I want to d ie

The Queen of the Fae was exactly as Aelin remembered. Swirling dark robes, a beautiful pale face beneath onyx hair, red lips set in a faint smile

Of course Maeve is also drop dead gorgeous. Somebody gotta put a cap on the amount of beauty in SJM’s novels, it’s becoming too much.

With [Maeve’s] attention elsewhere, Lorcan took up a place at Aelin’s side—as if they were somehow allies in this, would fight back-to-back. Aelin didn’t bother to say anything to him.

I mean, Lorcan being on your side gives you a much better chance of rescuing Elide, but sure Alien, be like that.

That ripple of Lorcan’s power the day Ansel’s fleet had closed in … [Aelin]’d known it was a summoning. The same way she’d summoned the Valg to Skull’s Bay. She’d refused to immediately explain Ansel’s presence, wanting to enjoy the surprise of it, and he had summoned Maeve’s armada to take on what he’d believed to be an enemy fleet. To save Elide.

This seems kinda weird to me? Elide has stated to Lorcan numerous times that she’s on Alien’s side, so wouldn’t Maeve consider her a threat and an enemy? Why would Lorcan summon her to save Elide, then? But whatever, the less time we dwell on shitty writing, the quicker we get this shitshow over with.

Elide was trembling; every bone, every pore was trembling

Every pore??? Lmfao is SJM just giving up at this point?? She can’t shoehorn in sexual references when her protag is confronting the villain so she wants to just get it over with.

Lorcan betrays them and Alien is shocked, but like... why are y’all surprised Lorcan was literally only with you guys for Elide, he has no reason to like anyone else in Alien’s group of jackasses.

Flame danced at Aelin’s fingertips. No. Her magic had been emptied, still hovered near burnout.

Maeve kick her ass please I am begging you, wipe the fucking floor with her

Maeve returned Aelin’s smile. “(...)Of course, the fools didn’t realize that when you had drained yourself on their armies, I’d be waiting. You were already exhausted after putting out the fires I had my armada ignite to tire you on Eyllwe’s coast. It was a convenience that Lorcan gave your precise location and saved me the energy of tracking you down myself.” A trap. An enormous, wicked trap. To drain Aelin’s power over days— weeks.

Alien’s tiny mind is fucking blown by this but no fucking shit!!! You’re a dumbass who thinks wasting her magic on shooting fireworks out of her ass is a good idea, of course someone would notice and take advantage of you!! Does Alien even have a goddamn brain???

“The armada was a precaution. Just in case the ilken didn’t arrive for you to wholly drain yourself … I figured a few hundred ships would make for good kindling until I was ready.” To sacrifice [Maeve’s] own fleet—or part of it—to gain one prize … This was madness. The queen was utterly insane.

I mean. Maeve is an evil bloodthirsty monster, but she’s way smarter than any of these dumbasses. Honestly, I’m starting to root for her. She figured out her enemy’s weakness and used it against them, which is more brain power than Alien is capable of.

Flame slammed outward, red and golden—just as a wall of darkness lashed for Aelin. The impact shook the world. Even Manon was thrown on her ass.

Love how SJM tries to make this showdown all ~epic and uhmayzing~ but then throws in Manon falling flat on her ass. The rivalry between Maeve and Alien is barely developed so I’m hardly excited for Maeve to kick Alien’s ass. Makes me wish I could be reading Death Note instead, now there’s a good power play between rival characters.

Lorcan grabs Elide while Maeve and Alien duke it out and he tries to get her to run.

[Elide] would not. She’d sooner die than flee like a coward, not when Aelin was going to the mat for all of them, when—

Going to the mat? Wtf??? Yes I know it’s an expression of struggling/fighting until defeated or victorious, but this completely threw me out of the story when I read it. This is a (supposedly) medieval setting, and this saying just seems out of place in this setting.

A whip of black sliced into Aelin. She went down. And Elide thought the impact of Aelin Galathynius’s knees hitting the sand might have been the most horrible sound she’d ever heard.

Elide was literally enslaved in a tower and abused by her uncle but seeing some stupid queen she barely knows getting the shit kicked out of her is the worst thing she’s ever witnessed. Okay, SJM, okay. Elide deserves so much better than to be reduced to a fangirl to splooge over Alien.

Aelin crawled backward, blood sliding from her right nostril. Dripping on her white shirt.

*clenches fist* fragmentsssssss. A comma or the word and would’ve sufficed better there.

Aelin tried to rise. Tried, but her legs had given out. The Queen of Terrasen panted, fire flickering like dying embers around her.

I’ll admit, I rather like the symbolism of the embers dying out around her, highlighting how she’s utterly failed and gotten her ass whooped. Very nice.

Fenrys and Gav roll up to the party while Maeve continues to beat Alien. I know it’s cruel to say, but I’m rather enjoying Alien getting her arrogant ass whooped after unfairly winning literally every confrontation with no effort in this novel.

But Maeve let the darkness around Aelin part. She was curled on her side, bleeding from both nostrils now, more blood dribbling from her panting mouth.

Considering she’s getting whipped and stabbed by black magic, I think she should be bleeding from actual wounds than having just a nosebleed lmao. Maeve starts grilling Gav.

“Did I or did I not tell you to execute Lorcan on sight?” “There were … circumstances that prevented it from happening. We tried.” “Yet you failed. Am I not supposed to discipline my blood-bonded who fail me?” Gavriel lowered his head. “Of course—we will accept it. And I will also take on the punishment you intended for Aelin Galathynius.”

NOOOOO I SWEAR TO FUCKING GOD SJM IF YOU KILL OFF GAV FOR ALIEN TO LIVE I WILL FUCKING FIGHT YOU

So Maeve kicks Gav out of her court and dishonors him, but he lives, thank god. If Gav ends up dying in this series I’m gonna have to have a long angry chat with SJM. Gav basically disappears for the rest of the scene even though he’s right there? Whatever spares him from the agony of this shitty book I guess.

Elide splooges about what a badass assassin Alien was and how she’ll wait for the right moment to strike, before Maeve removes all of Alien’s weapons for that exact reason. My sides hurt from the fucking cackling I did at that. Can’t believe I am about to stan Maeve, but she’s a ruthless, badass, calculating villain who is capable of thinking about things other than sex. Nothing but respect for my evil queen.

“What a powerhouse you two would be—[Aelin] and Prince Rowan. And any offspring of that union …” A vicious smirk. “You and Rowan could rule this continent if you wished. But your children … your children would be powerful enough to rule an empire that could sweep the world.”

Ungh, c’mon Maeve, I know you’re just fucking with Alien, but don’t make me read that garbage. Can’t wait until there’s a sequel series to Thr0ne of glass about Alien’s goblin kids being even more uber powered special snowflakes than their mother. C’mon, you know SJM would.

“It was so easy to tug on the right psychic thread that day Rowan saw Lyria at the market. To shove him down that other path, to trick those instincts. A slight altering of fate.” (...) Maeve said, “So your mate was given to another. And I let him fall in love, let him get her [pregnant]. And then I broke him. No one ever asked how those enemy forces came to pass by his mountain home.”

Great, so Lyria was nothing but a plot point to get Ratlin together now? Fuck off SJM, stop reducing your other characters as nothing but plot points for your precious OTP. Lyria deserved so much better than this.

“[Rowan] took the blood oath without question. And I knew that whenever you were born, whenever you’d come of age … I’d ensure that your paths crossed, and you’d take one look at each other and I’d have you by the throat. Anything I asked for, you’d give to me. Even the keys. For your mate, you could do no less. You almost did that day in Doranelle.”

Lmfao I love how one of the main selling points fans use for this series were “it depicts love accurately, Alien has more than one love interest!1″ and SJM fucking killed any chance of using that as a positive of the series hahahahaha I am actually fucking dying. Chaol, Dorito, and Sam didn’t mean shit because her one true love was Rowboat all long. Couldn’t have written a shittier plot twist if I tried, SJM, hats off to you. That deserves a slow clap.

Maeve ignored [Elide pleading]. “Well? When did you know [Rowan was her mate]?” “At Temis’s temple,” Aelin admitted, glancing to Manon. “The moment the arrow went through his shoulder. Months ago.”

Nothing turns me on more than my abusive boyfriend almost dying by an arrow to the shoulder. I know, I know, the mating bond in AC0TAR is different than the ones in T0G, but still.

Maeve shrugged. “If it’s any consolation, Aelin, you would have had a thousand years with Prince Rowan. Longer.”

Go tf off, Maeve!!!! I’d read an entire book of Maeve just ripping Alien a new one tbh

Turns out Alien is due to Settle in five years or so. What a relief, SJM’s precious Mary Sue won’t ever have to grow, god forbid, old and ugly! Phew, really dodged a bullet there!

Maeve calls out Cairn, the asshole dude Lorcan brought up many chapters prior.

A handsome, brown-haired warrior walked toward them from the cluster of escorts. Handsome, if it weren’t for the sadistic cruelty singing in his blue eyes.

So is he handsome or not, SJM? These two sentences are so contradictory. Maeve gives Alien a choice whether to come willingly or to refuse and let Elide be dragged along. Alien is a selfish shitlord, but she cares about Elide despite barely knowing her, so we all know which she’ll probably choose.

Next chapter, finally, holy shit that one was so long I had to skim most of it.

Aelin’s body hurt. Everything hurt. Her blood, her breath, her bones. There was no magic left. Nothing left to save her.

It’s funny how this is framed as we’re supposed to feel bad for poor Alien but I’m laughing my ass off. Act like a little shit, get hit, Alien.

Aelin simply nodded at the Fae Queen. Her acceptance and surrender.

Surprise, surprise. I’ll at least give Alien a little credit for considering the safety of somebody else besides herself or Rowboat’s Fae peen. Man, the bar is set pretty low, eh?

And because she had won, Maeve even loosened her power’s grip on Aelin’s bones. Allowed Aelin to turn to Elide and say, “Go with Manon. She will take care of you.” Elide began crying, shoving away from Lorcan. “I’ll go with you, I’ll come with you—”

Wtf Elide, no, you’re smarter than this!!!! Alien is sacrificing herself so you can be free, you run and get Alien’s comrades and then you have a chance to free Alien afterwards!! Goddamnit SJM you’re making me repulsed by Elide because all she is now is a tool to fawn over Alien dhfkhfksdh I'm so goddamn mad

Aelin’s soul splintered as she saw the iron box the escorts now carried between them. An ancient, iron coffin. Big enough for one person. Crafted for her.

Oof, so there’s the coffin bit I’ve been hearing about. Can’t really say I’m sorry for Alien. Yeah I know that’s mean, but she’s a massive unlikable selfish asshole who gets everything handed to her without her doing any work, so forgive me for not feeling bad when she finally gets a good deserved kick in the bottom.

“And tell Rowan,” Aelin said, fighting her own sob, “that I’m sorry I lied. But tell him it was all borrowed time anyway. Even before today, I knew it was all just borrowed time, but I still wish we’d had more of it.”

Again, good concept, just wasted on an absolute shit tier ship. Someone write an AU of this but with a good ship, yeah? And, y’know, rewrite most of the plot so it makes sense.

Maeve lowered the mask and drawled to Aelin, “Rumor claims you will bow to no one, Heir of Fire.” That serpentine smile. “Well, now you will bow to me.” She pointed to the sand. Aelin obeyed.

I shouldn’t be enjoying this as much as I am, but ahhh feels so good to read Alien get taken down a peg or two after being so irritatingly arrogant! Feels good, feels organic.

“Take off your shirt.” Aelin tugged her shirt out of her pants and slung it over her head, tossing it in the sand beside her. Then she removed the flexible cloth around her breasts.

So.... a bra, essentially? Is she wearing a bra? Or was SJM unsure of whether or not medieval women wore bras and was like “Ehhhh I’ll describe it as just a cloth, that way nobody can point fingers at me for shitty world building!”

Aelin didn’t fight as [the Fae warriors] each gripped her by an arm and hauled her up. Spread her arms wide. The sea air kissed her breasts, her navel.

Man, given how there’s only a few chapters left, this may be the last unnecessary focus on a female character’s breasts we get in this novel. And it’s right before our main character endures a harsh whipping. Oh SJM, you never disappoint.

Cairn halted. [Aelin] felt him studying the tattoo on her back. Rowan’s loving words, written there in the Old Language. Cairn snorted. Then she felt him revel in how he’d destroy that tattoo.

Evidently, SJM never learned what nuanced characters are. Cairn whips Alien some until Maeve orders them to chuck Alien into the iron coffin. Manon peaces out with Elide, and I hope SJM lets them run away with Abraxos to a better novel.

Time—[Aelin] was grateful Elena had given her that stolen time. Grateful she had met them all, that she had seen some small part of the world, had heard such lovely music, had danced and laughed and known true friendship. Grateful that she had found Rowan. She was grateful.

Another good example of good concept that’s wasted on a shitty character. This should be breaking my heart, but it’s about Alien and I fucking hate Alien more than almost any other fictional character. So alas, I’m left just feeling hallow and tired.

So Aelin Galathynius dried her tears. And did not fight when Maeve strapped that beautiful iron mask over her face.

Seems odd Alien would describe what is essentially an object meant to torture her as beautiful, but alright. We’re almost done folks, buckle up for the final leg of this shitstorm of a journey.

#the worm talks #the worm reads: eos #anti sjm #anti tog #anti eos

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maevworldny · 5 years ago

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Mornings Around Here: With our cover stars Shelby and Lyria

Welcome back to our series on morning routines where we highlight women around the city and talk to them about what their morning routines look like with their dog. No two mornings are alike and they shouldn’t be! A lot of people hope that dogs will help to bring routine and structure into our lives, to bring joy into mornings, to get up early, to lounge a little longer - whatever it is, it’s your sacred ritual. It’s designed to fit your life and your dogs’s. We’re just here to show how many different faces it can take on.

This week, we chatted with our cover girl Shelby about life in New York with her amazingly calm and confident rescue Lyria. When we met them on set, it quicky became clear their relationship is pure magic. Honestly honored to have them in our shoot and to know them as poeple in our lives. Let’s get into it.

Shelby and Lyria

“Lyria compliments my interior aesthetic, funny enough. My whole apartment is white and pink and so is she.”

How long have you been in New York?

I’ve been living in New York City for almost ten years, which kind of feels like forever.

You’re an interior designer here in the city. Can you tell us a bit about how you got into that and what the day to day is like?

I moved to the city to attend interior design school at the fashion institute. It was a very rigorous but rewarding program which prepared me for the “real world” of design. When I graduated, I worked at a small hospitality design firm of five and traveled abroad a lot designing hotels in Paris and Berlin. I stayed at the firm for less than a year because the hours were insane. Since then I’ve been on the in-house interiors team at a large coworking firm. The firm I’m at is incredible with some of the most innovative minds I’ve come across in New York. It’s been wonderful and because of the fast pace of projects I’ve been able to see twelve projects that I designed come to life in the last three and a half years.

What do you love most about what you do?

I love watching people’s reactions to my designs. When people move into the spaces I created, hearing them express awe and wonder over my work is the most rewarding. Being able to play a part in how people live and work, and making a difference in people’s day to day lives is the best.

Interior design requires a pretty creative mind - where do you go when you’re looking for inspiration in both your professional and personal life?

When I’m craving a dose of creativity I usually end up at a used book store. Vintage books on architecture and interiors are so cool. Right now I’m really into 80s interiors. Truly, everything comes back into style after enough time has passed - kind of like fashion.

You told us on set that you love monochromatic looks and looser fitting clothing. What’s your style inspiration and how has your style evolved over time?

My style has gone through so many weird phases. In college I was a bit of a hippie and only wore massive grandma sweaters and floor length skirts. That eventually transformed into the typical all black New York ensemble. From that I really dove into menswear, inspired by an ex of mine who owned a skate shop and was constantly giving me old clothes. Lately I’m super into monochromatic looks, it’s easy to create a daily uniform that way. Currently really digging the all brown carhartt vibes. I stick to shopping in the men’s section, I think that habit is with me for life now.

We were lucky enough to meet Lyria on set and she is honestly the chillest, calmest dog. So chill in fact, that she was willing to sit in a tote bag on the subway on the way to the shoot despite not being a compact size whatsoever. When did you first decide to get a dog and how did you go about that process?

I’ve grown up with dogs in my family my whole life. I’ve always known I wanted to get a dog someday but knew I had to have enough space and enough money to care for a living creature. Let’s be real, having a dog in New York is basically like having a small child. I am fortunate enough to have found an amazing apartment in Brooklyn that I can afford on my own. Once I settled into my spot and saved up money for a while, I went to an adoption event for Pupstarz rescue in Union Square. I had sent in my information and was preapproved to adopt. I had my eye on a tiny chihuahua until I got there and saw Lyria. And that was it! I knew she was going to be mine.

I called Lyria the chillest dog ever. Is that accurate or was that all for show that day? How would you describe her personality?

Lyria has so much personality. She’s super chill around new people, every time I have friends over they’re always shocked by how mellow and zen she is. However, whenever we are alone she’s her true self. She follows me everywhere and has a case or two of the zoomies every day - especially if I give her a bone. She won’t chew it for at least a half hour because she spends that time running around it like a maniac. When she gets really excited it’s my favorite thing to watch.

Lyria is a really unique name. What was the inspiration behind it?

Lyria was given a name by the rescue, Leria. Her foster mom was calling her Elinor, which I didn’t think suited her. I researched into the name Leria, apparently it’s the name of a minor character in Star Wars. I liked the name a lot but not the spelling, so I changed the E to a Y. It really suits her but is tricky to enunciate to new people.

I have to say, you guys are a perfect fit - you just make sense together. In what ways do you think the two of you complement one another?

Lyria best compliments my interior aesthetic, funny enough. My whole apartment is white and pink and so is she. It was meant to be!! On a more serious note, I’ve struggled with depression and anxiety since I was a teenager. Lyria has been instrumental in my mental health journey. She is always by my side, ready to walk or play or just take a nap. She’s always thrilled when I come home, she’s a loyal companion. She compliments me in every way, I couldn’t ask for a better match.

Lyria’s not a tote bag dog by any measure. What’s been the hardest part of having her with you in New York City?

The hardest part of having her in the city is the inability to just walk into stores and shop or go into a restaurant and eat. Mobility is a huge issue, and people are still hesitant of her breed. We spend so much time wandering around, and I wish I could take her more places and expose her to more things. Unfortunately, New York isn’t very dog friendly. Taking her on the train is a whole process, and there are very few places she can attend with me that aren’t completely dog centered.

What are some of your favorite activities to do together on weekends or when you have a bit more time on your hands?

I love getting her together with her best friend, Ruby. Ruby is also a pit mix rescue and the two of them run around the apartment like wild banshees. I also like bringing her to the Brooklyn Cider House or Sage because she can meet new people and be exposed to new things. We also participate in a neighborhood “pack walk” called the Bushwick Dog Pack. There are a lot of rescues who need socialization and doing a pack walk exposes them to other dogs in a safe environment. We also spend a lot of time at a local park in the summer. I bring a big blanket and a book and Lyria immediately knows it’s time to chill and enjoy the sunshine. We spend hours in that park just chilling.

What time do the two of you wake up every morning?

We wake up between 7am and 10am. Usually more around the 7am mark.

Are you guys early birds or night owls?

We are night owls, mostly because I’m not a morning person. But the best thing is she doesn’t ask me to have long conversations in the morning - makes being a morning person easier.

Does she sleep in your bed?

Yes! She sleeps in my bed. It’s the best. I think she thinks my bed is actually her bed.

What's the first thing you do every day?

The first thing I do every day is rub her belly. She likes to be woken up that way and it’s such a calm, happy start to a day.

And what's the first thing you two do together every day?

The first thing we do together everyday is eat breakfast and take a walk. We have a good routine down, it helps her to understand if it’s a work day and I’m leaving for a while, or if it’s a weekend and we are gonna have more time to hang together.

What's for breakfast?

I usually have a coffee and that’s it.. not a huge breakfast person. She eats dog food and I drizzle salmon oil on it if I’m feeling lazy. If not she gets chicken too.

Walk before or after breakfast?

We walk after breakfast. If she doesn’t eat prior, she is more keen on the Brooklyn street snacks people leave around

What do you listen to while getting ready for the day?

I usually listen to podcasts while I’m getting ready. It’s a chill way to get my mind started before work.

Healthiest morning habit:

Healthiest morning routine would probably be the walking aspect. I like to have a quick coffee and be out the door.

Worst morning habit:

Worst morning habit is the no breakfast part, I’m sure

One word to describe your mornings:

My mornings are quick and routine. Not much changes during the weekday. On a weekend it’s better because we go on extensive walks and stop at a local coffee shop, Brooklyn Kava, and take our sweet time doing nothing in particular.

I never leave home without…

If I’m with her I never leave home without training treats. They’re an integral part of her perfect behavior ;). If it’s just me I never leave home without headphones. Nothing like a sunny walk listening to good music.

If you had one extra hour in the morning, how would you use it?

If I had an extra hour in the morning I’d sleep in.

The best part of mornings with my dog is:

The best part of my morning with Lyri is first waking up, being warm and cozy under the covers and snuggling. She’s the best snuggler.

Our morning routine series is designed to showcase the diversity of experiences that come with having a dog in the city in all the ups and all the downs.

If you and your dog would like to be featured, text ‘ritual’ to 29071

#Dogs #Women's Lifestyle

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icharchivist · 1 year ago

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Also some yesterday's relink thoughts (since i was too beat to mention it here), i still haven't finished the game but i did finish chapter 8

-So far the plot continue to impress.

-The boss fights are fucking insane. The generals of the church are fucking hard. The primals are even harder. what the FUCK was that fight in the desert?!

-Would kill to have Siete meeting the Harvin lady though. they'd be friends. or rivals.

-Also the Primals' designs are all so damn cool. The one from Lilith's primal in particular is so intimidating. Reminds me a bit of what The Devil should look like though.

-Seeing Lyria in this situation was completely gutting.

-But I totally fell for Id now too and we cheered when he turned on Lilith so now we just hope he'll join us for good.

-Lilith is like, pure villainy and all, an Astral like we know and love them (derogatory), but she's also like, super funny about it? We were looking at her profile yesterday and laughing because her 3D model is always floating like "nope i'm not setting a foot on this heathen's land", and Salt commented on how her profile looks like "Hobbies: don't let your dreams just be dreams! / Dreams: Destruction." and i'm still thinking about that.

-Rolan. Like i said a bit before reveal i did kinda expect him to have this history with Lilith, one he might be ashamed off and trying to right. I only got wrong that i thought his shady attitude was because he was aware he would be using us and that if we went against his plans he'd turn on us -- easy mistake since it's such a granblue thing to do. Instead i was completely blindsided by the Astral reveal lmao

-But it's so wild to see an Astral actually being nice? actually caring for Skydwellers? Like we've heard of them in some background stuff (Orchis' father come to mind), but the ones we met in the story were all such... well..... Lilith-type that it blindsided me lmao. So nice though.

-which also means he's now a meow meow with a savior complex AND the immortal dread of knowing he'll outlive anyone he cares about. he adds up to the pile of what we obsess on here. What a guy

-The Boss Battle to get Lyria back was epic. And heartbreaking. And the way they took into account who you had in your party made it even more heartshattering. God it was a good scene.

-PLAYING BAHAAMUUUUUUUT. the game crashed right after this fight so i had to redo it but it was so cool.

-Anyway back to Rolan why did Lilith evaporate him twice this is so evil D: at least he's not dead but wow. Also Lilith backstabbing him is just so. Is it the way Astral just kill people?

-Going back to the town we were told "you saved your princess in distress, now let us handle it" and the chat collectively went "well, Rolan now is our princess in distress" so glad we agree.

-Also shout out to Rackam, esp following a Fate Episode where he says he never know what to say to women and he's uncomfortable around them, hitting us with:

not beating any of the gay boy allegation. Make sure Noa doesn't hear you though.

-Granblue Localization my beloved:

-Also aside from the fact he keeps dying (but it's okay he's an astral he'll be fine (copium)), Rolan is such a nerd but like, exactly up-my-alley type of nerd. 10/10 would sink my teeth into him.

-And should mention it but yeah one "flaw" ultimately is that playing the game in Japanese adds a level of difficulty because they have plot relevent dialogues and/or tips for some battles in the middle of some battles and most of the time i have to pay close attention to the flow of battles and can't let the dialogues set in. For people who would have been worried about missing some of the dialogue by playing in Japanese, i confirm that, yeah, that's a concern. I'm still stubbornly playing it that way but it is a bit tougher.

Anyway so i stopped after we got Lyria back and before going to look for Rolan.

Outside of the plot, I finished the 4 knights set an also got Cagliostro (who is SO FUN to play???)

So the plan today is that i need to wrap a few things up, then i'll get back in th egame, i'll go through all the fate Episode that were unlocked since then, and then i'll get back to the main plot.

I think i'm on the last stretch anyway so i'll probably wrap it up today.

but it was so damn fun so far i'm enjoying myself so much.

#ichablogging gbfr #relink spoilers

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eclissy · 7 years ago

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I can’t think of a title but if i did, it’d probably be the most emo thing like how this is probably the most emo thing i’ve written. I’m also assuming a tone of things, like relations between characters, thought processes, yada yada, baldir only has maybe 30 lines, still hope it’s readable since some of the scenes sounded good in my head and I really wanted to write them :3

It was deep into the night and the trees were illuminated with purple light. The half re-formed Crystal of Beginnings was crumbling as Vane began to wake.

“Percy?” Vane groaned, struggling to sit up. A sharp white hot pain from his leg jolted him awake and he threw his head back on to Aracelia’s lap, grinding his teeth in agony. The stab wound in his thigh had been cauterized by the same fiery sword stolen from his friend. “…Celia? WAH! Celia!” He exclaimed as his vision refocused. Grabbing Celia’s arm, he begged “You need to find Percy! J-just leave me here,” His voice shivered despite the sweat drenching his forehead. “I’ll be fine but Percy! Th-th-that jerk knows we f-found out, I don’t know what he’ll do with Per-rcy. Ara—“

Celia looked up in the direction she had sent Ezecrain, ensuring that he would go the wrong way.

She kept watching, biting into her lip until it bled, waiting for the jangling of his chains to trail into silence. Now, it was safe to find Percival. Leaving Vane alone left him open for any monster or bandit to find but she had a choice between taking a chance and letting both of her friends live, or stay and guarantee that one dies.

Gently, Celia lifted Vane’s head and pillowed it on her folded coat.

“Thank you, Celia.” Vane grinned wide and even when he was as pale as bone, for a split second, it felt like nothing was wrong.

“I’ll get Percival back, I promise.” Celia whispered before she gingerly stood, clutching her badly bruised side. With rushed steps, she limped back through the woods to the Grandcypher.

The cut wasn’t bleeding as badly as it could have. She had surprised Vane’s captor and he had swung wildly, hurting her without meaning to. Celia could tell from how upset he looked.

Maybe that meant that Percival was starting to wake up.

None of this was his fault. Finding the salvaged remains of the shards wasn’t his fault. That was because Celia had been careless and everything that had happened after was from her being willfully blind.

It was obvious from the start that Percival hadn’t been acting like himself.

His swordplay wasn’t right. Percival seldom unsheathed his blade and when he did, Celia didn’t see how he defeated the monsters. The few times she caught the knight testing the weapon’s weight, he lodged it into something or an unfortunate someone nearby.

He didn’t speak the way he usually would either. Percival had always been a little, maybe a lot, curt. Harsh and insensitive at the most tense of times but he would never say anything solely to hurt someone.

When Lancelot tried to find out why his friend had been avoiding him, Percival gave some choice words to his concern. Though Celia didn’t hear what he had to say, she did have an inkling that it had something to do with Lancelot immediately assuming Siegfried had been insane when he had apparently acted out of character too. Not just any small argument could send Lancelot storming into town to disappear for half a week, only returning when Vane ran hollering through the streets.

Meanwhile, Percival would hardly sleep, jolting awake when he did. Celia would see his fright slowly twist into an ugly scowl, hearing something break or see his fist denting the wall when his anger boiled over.

This Percival was a stranger to Celia and she was stupid enough to chalk it up to grief. The anniversary of his mother’s death had been approaching and even when he never acted out like this before, loss and grief were unpredictable monsters to Celia. Her mistake was thinking that Percival didn’t handle them better than she did.

“Mmph.” She stifled a pained grunt, tripping over the debris the Grandcypher had left when it crashed. Its hulking hull had slid to a stop at the base of a mountainside, leaving a hole low enough to the ground for Celia to climb into.

There had to be some kind Astrals out there and Celia thanked them for having Lyria and Vryn leaving the ship an island back. They had only stepped off the Grandcypher when it was hijacked and flew off into the evening.

If they were here, Celia was sure she’d lose all control and bawl her eyes out in front of them. Both were kind and gentle, something Celia couldn’t be right now.

Scaling the stray ropes dangling from the mast, Celia was able to haul herself into one of the halls and stood, willing the moisture in the air to gather in her hands. They hardened into a double edged icy sword, wreathed in a frosty fog that spread over the floor as Celia made her way to Percival’s room.

The door was ajar and Celia pushed it open, waiting for the room to light and for fire to rush at her face.

What she found instead were all of the books she had offered to translate for Percival, stacked in eight different piles. He tricked her into thinking that the research was going to be use to help Aglovale. Percival’s older brother may have been suffering from the lingering effects of dabbling in that otherworldly magic. These books that had been collected over the course of the Grandcypher’s journeys could hold remedies.

How did books on curses, live sacrifices, and living mana fuel sources help him?

Not at all.

‘It’s good to know,’ Percival had said, patting a dusty tome. ‘That’s another option to cross off the list. A shame that all of the author’s work is going to waste.’

At the time, Celia didn’t delve into it and didn’t try until more than half of those books had been translated.

That was because most the work was done at Percival’s desk, sitting so close to him that Percival would sometimes doze off on her shoulder. It was fine. Yes, it did make concentrating difficult because of how loud the blood rushing through her ears was but she managed. Percival took it as a sign that he could drape himself over Celia without any pretense of exhaustion.

‘Why so nervous? Lyria holds your hand all the time and Vryn gets to sleep on your lap. Aren’t we friends?’ He asked. ‘Aren’t we?’ He repeated in a whisper, snaking his arm around Celia’s waist and buried his nose into her hair, deathly starved for warmth.

There was a deep fear rooted in Celia, a seed her father had planted when he left her and Vryn alone. He treated his parting with her with as much care as someone would a complete stranger. For years, Celia had gone quiet and kept herself far away from the rest of the villagers. It wasn’t until Lyria and Katalina came crashing into Zinkenstill that Celia remembered how to speak and laugh.

So what if someone she loved left again? What if someone she loved dearly went away and it confirmed her worst fears about how being abandoned wasn’t beyond her control. What if people left her because she was the problem?

‘Aren’t we friends?’ The phrase posed gave her a place to meet midway. If they were just friends, it made it easier to lie about it not meaning as much.

‘We are.’ She had said, curling into Percival’s embrace. The knight had suddenly gone stiff; like he hadn’t expected her to so confidently agree to the arrangement.

What was so strange about it anyway? Percival was freezing. Celia could feel the chill in his skin through his clothes. She had only been helping him feel warmer.

“What’s wrong with me?” Celia grimaced, dearly wanting to take her sword and split that chair in two.

To avoid the temptation, Celia took her gaze away and found herself staring somewhere even worse.

‘Percival! Percival, it’s ok!’ Celia was at the knight’s bedside after he had finally fallen asleep during one of their research sessions. The captain was glad to carry him to his bed but Percival wasn’t prone for long.

The moment his head touched the pillow, Percival snapped awake and grabbed for her throat. Celia’s neck cracked from the effort Percival threw into holding her down, eyes burning with self-righteous rage. Once he realized where he was, the knight pushed himself away and was about to leave the room, callous to Celia’s shock and burdened breathing.

‘Where are you going?’ Celia had grabbed for Percival’s arm. ‘Please, Percival! You need to tell me what’s going on! Let me help you!’ The leer he gave her made Celia want to melt into a puddle and seep into the cracks in the floorboards. It was as though he hated her as much as the soldiers from the Erste Empire did.

But moments before, he had been scared. Why scared?

Then Celia’s mind went back to the date, how close it was to the anniversary of his mother’s death. A new idea formed, a wild stab in the dark that let him get off scott free.

‘Dying isn’t like falling asleep. You don’t need to be afraid to go to sleep,’ She assured him, calm washing back over her. ‘You’re not going to slip away.’

Percival laughed in her face.

‘I don’t need you to patronize me. If I wanted to get babied, I’d go look for E…hm,’ Percival turned towards her with his thumb hooked in his pockets, posture slouched in a way he’d usually find unbecoming. ‘How would you know anyways?’

He hadn’t completely wanted Celia to leave if he hadn’t shaken her hold off. Celia pulled his hand over her stomach. The scar there was so pronounced that Percival could feel its outline through her clothes.

‘If Lyria hadn’t saved me, I would have stayed dead,’ Celia released his arm but he didn’t move away. ‘I didn’t realize how much I feel things when I’m alive. When I stopped being able to see and hear, I also stopped caring. I wasn’t angry or lonely, I was blank. It was actually sort of a relief until I heard Vryn crying.’ Celia reached up to cup Percival’s guarded face, letting her heat sink into his cheeks. ‘Sleeping isn’t like dying at all. Your worries follow you into your dreams,’ Carefully, Celia slid her hands behind Percival’s neck and pulled him into a hug. ‘And so do all of the good things. There’s nothing wrong about being angry and afraid but try thinking about all of the good things first.’

Percival’s arms wrapped around Celia suddenly, crushing her against his chest. They fell on to his bed and he hung on to Celia for dear life.

‘What were you afraid of?’ That question startled Celia more than the embrace.

‘I don’t think I could live on my own.’ Celia replied in the vaguest way she could. Oddly, this wasn’t uncomfortable. Not even awkward. They were only friends after all.

‘I think you did,’ Percival said. ‘Isn’t it frustrating? You do all that you can to make people see you and once they do, they pick apart everything you did. Always twisting it as something wrong so they can throw you back to the side.’

Celia experience wasn’t exactly like that but she could empathize. Percival being the youngest of three noble boys, under the both the scrutiny and lower expectations set by the people of Wales and even his family. Hearing about that made Celia feel much better; someone who shined as much as Percival could feel the same selfish things as her.

Shocked back into the present, Celia had to stop the memory there. Any farther and she would be going over all of the things she had told the person that had possessed Percival. He knew everything about her life in Zinkenstill, the fears she still had on the run with a family she was scared could scatter at any moment, and had traced all the scars she had gotten from keeping her promises.

Worse, he didn’t even pretend to be Percival. For days, he talked about stories from the village of Amethysts in all ways but name. And she had eaten all of it up.

That, and effectively let him cut her off from Lyria and Vryn the entire time. While she fell asleep to the beat of Percival’s heart, he had used the research to restore the Crystal of Beginnings at the low price of the rest of the crew’s lives.

The shards of the Crystal fell out of the desk drawer right when the Grandcypher was forced off course, waking Celia from her dream. A few bits were still on the carpet.

Celia bit her lip so it wouldn’t tremble, taking to searching through all the books and materials he left behind. She made a quick mess of a room, concluding that he hadn’t returned to resort to a plan B now that his first attempt had failed.

“Where could he have gone?” Celia was relieved to leave the room, sprinting through the Grandcypher searching for a blood trail to the villain.

With no signs to be found, Celia couldn’t think of anywhere else on the ship he’d go to take cover. That meant he was out on the run and Celia had no clue what he was planning. That was arguably worse than using the multitude of other heinous spells she had helped him learn.

Swearing at herself, Celia made a stop at her room to grab runes, the Revenant dagger, and whatever else could possibly help. Then, Celia went to leave and found him leaning against the door, flitting through the pages of Percival’s journal.

“Baldir!” Celia raised her sword, itching to run him through for what he had done.

“Did you think Percival was a diva too?” Baldir asked, striding towards her in Percival’s body. He didn’t look up from the journal or particularly care that Celia had the point of her sword against his belly. His mannerisms were no different than before and Celia was ashamed she had done nothing about it. “He won’t drink wine that’s younger than ten years, he keeps that gaudy armor so shiny I can’t believe he hasn’t polished it into dust, and he has to keep himself so groomed that a misplaced hair makes people worry.”

“Stay back!” Celia ordered and it fell on deaf ears.

“His mother dying on this same day saved me a lot of trouble keeping up,” Baldir flipped to the next page. “Everyone, even the mongrel he says gets on his nerves so much, remembered and I didn’t even care to look up her name.” He closed the book one-handed, smirking at the cute snarl Celia had.

“You were going to kill Vane!” She hissed. If Celia and Ezecrain had caught on to the scheme a second late, Vane would have been dead.

“That’s one thing Percival and I have in common. We didn’t think that mangy dog paid that much attention to him. Almost got away with burying him before you found out too,” Baldir’s mouth twitched into a scowl for a moment and it was then that he decided to acknowledge the weapon aimed at his gut. “Relax,” He held up his hands. “I’m at the end of the line.”

When Celia refused to budge, Baldir pushed by her blade and tilted her chin up. They were seeing eye-to-eye and Celia jerked away, swing her sword back to cleave him in two. Baldir watched the blade hang in the air.

“Do you want to take a shot at me? Now’s the time,” He turned his hands over in a shrug. “You can make that sword phase right through Percival and kill what’s left of me. I know how much you put into studying magic. In fact, there isn’t anything I don’t know about you,” Baldir tilted his head back and laughed in a way so condescending, Celia could barely believe in Percival’s voice. “It’s flattering how charming you think I am.”

“You tricked me!” Celia shouted, gripping her sword so hard that the hilt began to crack. “I wanted to help Percival and you used him! If I knew it was you—“

“But you weren’t talking to Percival.” Baldir tsked, shaking his head as he walked closer to Celia. “No, you were talking to me. You wanted to know about me. You wanted to stay with me!” Becoming increasingly erratic, he lunged at Celia and swiped at air as she jumped out of the way. Just that effort made him fall to his knee, already drained from having to keep Percival in check with only slivers of his soul. “Ha…Haha…” He panted, watching Celia’s shadow fall over him. “What? Am I wrong?”

Using all of the fury building up inside her, Celia slashed her sword down with a shout. It smashed into pieces, leaving only the fractured hilt in Celia’s hands. A piece of the sword had bounced off of Baldir’s chest but nothing more.

Celia kept her chin down, keeping her contorting expression hidden. Her lips were pressed in a hard straight line and her eyes were squeezed shut in an attempt to keep from sobbing. A stray tear managed to escape, dropping between her boots.

Baldir said nothing, hand hovering over Celia’s long blue hair. He braved brushing his hand over a strand, looping the soft lock around his fingers so gently, Celia couldn’t feel it.

“Using Percival as a host isn’t the worst thing that’s ever happened to me but it comes pretty close.” Baldir stood to go sit on Celia’s bed.

It reminded her that a couple of times, Baldir would go to her room for no reason other than to visit. Perhaps to keep up the pretense that he was Percival but, to come here at his most vulnerable, Celia knew why and refused to acknowledge it.

“I glanced at a mirror and I thought I repossessed my own corpse by accident.” Baldir went on as Celia wiped her stinging eyes.

Percival’s hair was close to the same shade as Baldir’s, he had a similar lean and muscular build, and was even around the same age Baldir was when he was shot dead. This was the closest he could get to being alive.

“It’s ironic how close we look like each other but he has everything from blue blood to—“He let out a strained laugh. “—actually being compatible with the crystal.” He tried to use the chain and gem he had stolen from Ezecrain’s cabin one last time for any sort of answer.

It pointed at Celia again.

“No, it’s not ironic,” He flung the chain into the corner of Celia’s cabin. “It’s infuriating! One last insult before I go blank.”

That got Celia to look at Baldir falling back on her bed.

“I’m actually glad. If finally dying is just like how you said it’d be, I’m going to welcome it.” Baldir had been able to take a host thanks to the shards of the Crystal being clumped together. But Ezcrain shattering the crystal like weakened him terribly. His hold had a limit this time and he had wasted the last of his energy on that outburst. Now, he was going to disappear in a handful of minutes and at best, his boasting sounded flat. At worst, he sounded pleading. “I won’t need to see Ezecrain again and your crew won’t rip me apart for breaking their dog’s leg.”

“Stop talking.” Celia said, crawling to the side of the bed.

It wasn’t despite Baldir’s atrocities that Celia reached out to clutch his hand. It was because of them. The real irony was that on his final breaths, kindness would hurt the most.

Celia could be as greedy as she pleased.

“Aracelia,” Baldir regarded her in a way she would never let anyone else. She didn’t see a smirk or a sarcastic sneer. Celia saw a smile so sad, it almost made her stop hating him. “Isn’t he your Prince?” He asked with a dry throat, recalling what Percival wrote in his journal about his vassal staying by his side when he was injured. “You need to kiss him awake.”

A thought crossed Celia’s mind; one where she and Baldir grew up in the same place. Maybe if they were lonely together, Baldir wouldn’t have done such awful things and Celia wouldn’t be such a desperate person.

Taking those meaningless dreams, Aracelia climbed on the bed and cupped the side Percival’s cold cheek. They held each other’s gazes, Aracelia feeling his cold breath tickling her skin. She shuttered her eyes slowly, almost able to see Baldir in the dark when her lips brushed against his.

Baldir’s breath hitched and Aracelia took her chance, kissing Baldir deeply. He slid his hand under her clothes and over her ridges of her back, tangled his fingers in her hair, and bit at her soft lip. Baldir did everything he wanted to do when he had only wanted to be near her because he had been cold for so long, and more when he learned her name.

On Celia’s part, she dug her nails into his skin, wanting Baldir to regret everything he never had. Holding her breath, she enveloped herself in this horrible mistake, hoping Percival would do the right thing and never forgive her. Celia’s regrets rose in a crescendo, turning away from Baldir right at the end.

His last act was lifting his head, touching his forehead to the crook of her neck. Baldir hoped Aracelia had lied about what it was like to die, filling his thoughts with the one good thing he had.

Choking on a lump in her throat, Celia cushioned the back of Percival’s head when it fell back. His eyes gradually opened and it was the knight that was gazing back at her.

“Celia?” Percival knitted his brow, wondering why he ached from head to toe. The captain hugged him tightly, hiding her face in the pillow. “Celia, did something happen?”

The captain kept holding her breath, concentrating on her slowing heartrate and the warmth returning to Percival’s body.

“Don’t worry about it, Percival,” Celia sat up, giving him a reassuring grin. Her tone was the perfect picture of cheer but Percival couldn’t overlook how drained Celia appeared. “Rest. Vane’s injured out there so I’ll go get him first. Then, I’ll tell you everything, I pr...” She cleared her throat, coughing into her fist.

‘Do you promise?’ Percival thought to say, scrambled as his thoughts were. There was a voice in the back of his mind that stopped him; warned him that this was for Celia to choose.

“I’ll wait for you.” Percival said, hand sliding out of Celia’s once she moved away. Her gaze lingered on Percival, at ease as the sun began to rise, shining through her window over him.

Celia hugged herself, leaving with that sunrise in mind.

#ryunn #'s OCs #Aracelia #and that dirt rag #Baldydir #Baldir

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